What MY mission means to me

First off, we had an incredible week and I felt so blessed to see so many miracles, yet again, and teach 30 lessons! Some of my favorite moments this week:

As we walked to an appointment at the library, we met a man on the bridge crossing a river named Brenden. He had just began putting Christ in his life about two years ago and as we talked with him, you can tell he wants to follow Christ J So we invited him to come to the library with us and we were able to read out of the Book of Mormon with him and our two returning members. In the end, we showed "A Savior Is Born" video and he couldn't stop but smiling. As I looked at him, I felt the joy of someone coming unto Christ. A feeling that is priceless to me. It was incredible! He can't wait to go to YSA and learn more about the Restoration.

We had a special Christmas Cantata night here in Oshawa for the stake. It was just so special. Just before the performance, we were able to teach Dennis. Ah... He just melts my heart.  We talked about the Word of Wisdom and he is excited to fully live it and said, "Sisters... I can do this. I am going to quit today.  I know that as I read the literature and pray to God, I will feel his love. I can do it." Shortly after, during the Cantata, I began to tear up when I heard Dennis behind me sniffling and tearing up at the Christmas music that we were hearing. He was touched by the spirit... and so was I J 

Some things that I have learned and what my mission means to me: 

[turning outward] I have learned that this wasn't MY mission. As I have learned to turn outward and not inward, I have come closer to Christ in ways I know I couldn't have done on my own. Having the chance to do the Work of Salvation has truly helped me to see this--as we work hand in hand with our Savior, Jesus Christ, we begin to feel like a 'full purpose missionary' and SEE the countless miracles as we are an instrument in His Hands. My mission scripture I chose before serving a mission was Alma 29:9, "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." I have felt this joy! Pure happiness! This scripture has impacted my life and has completely changed my view of Christ's Atonement.  Getting the chance to invite others to Christ and having the opportunity and privilege to see this change is priceless.  Applying Christ's Atonement every day and turning outward has made an impact on my soul and I am forever grateful for that.

[the spirit] I have loved getting the chance of serving in one of the most diverse places in the world!  As I have had the chance to talk with so many people from all of the world... I know that Heavenly Father's loves ALL of His children.  It has been so special. No matter where they come from or what religious background they have, being able to see them as a spirit has taught me so many things. As I do this, I have learned to rely on the spirit to know what to do or say, which has required me to know how the spirit works with ME.  I know that without the spirit, we couldn't do missionary work!  It's all guided by Heavenly Father and I am SO grateful for him. Now knowing the pureness of the Restored Gospel has become a reality for me. The only way I know everything I do now, is because of the spirit.

[Love] My mission means everything to me!  I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all of my heart.  I feel I can say that I am beginning to become a refined disciple of Jesus Christ. Like Peter, I can now say, "...Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) and I feel eternally indebted to my Heavenly Father because I have felt it from the spirit and I cannot deny it. Wearing a name badge with your name and Christ's is a sacred privilege and opportunity that I have cherished every second here in Ontario.  Serving a mission has connected me to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in ways that are indescribable.  Love is everything to me and I am going to do EVERYTHING I can to return back to live with Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ, Because of my intense love for them.

Rosita that I taught in another area was Baptized!
I am so happy for her!!

I cannot wait to apply everything that I have learned the rest of my life so I can live with them again, along with my brothers and sisters.  I am going to do all that I can to ALWAYS invite others to come unto Christ, "...for the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10). I know that this gospel is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves us.  I cannot wait to throw my arms around him one day and hug him. I know that Jesus Christ is our literal Savior, we are healed, clean, strong, and peaceful as we apply the atonement every day in our life. Lastly... I will forever love and cherish the memories I hold close to my heart from serving in the Canada Toronto Mission.

Love to ALL.......See you Friday!! 

Sister Robb                          

Miracle Magnet

I am speechless as I sit here trying to put words together of the countless experiences and endless miracles that have happened. 

I am in Oshawa with Sister Hillman and Sister Bott as a sister training leader J They are both from Idaho and they are just the cutest! Yes, it is interesting to be back in Oshawa (from when I served here in the ward last year in Whitby).  It’s incredible to see the changes that have taken place since I've left and to see the progression of what's new! Since serving as a trio with these sisters, I feel like it's been a MIRACLE MAGNET since day one! Here is what happened last week.

I was able to go to the temple for my last time with the departing missionaries, have an interview with President Clayton, and a testimony meeting. If nothing else, I feel so much peace. Truly. It was such a special and sacred time to get a glimpse of how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have been with me--every day, every hour, and every minute. As I prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for every area that He has sent me, the companions that He assigned me to, and the people He placed in my path... I couldn't help but smile. 

Working here in Oshawa has been INCREDIBLE!! There are times were all three of us just sit there with our mouth open and are blown away. Here are some miracles that touched my heart: 

-While walking downtown after our lesson in the public library, I felt that we should print off some of the "Savior is Born" posters and try to put a lot of them in the little restaurants that lined King Street. While downtown, we met some incredible people. We were standing at a corner and the sisters said, "Which one do we go into first?" I instantly just said, "How about that one?" They said sure and we crossed the busy street. As we walked in, I met a man who had shoulder-length hair and he asked me, "Excuse me miss, are you in line?" I smiled and said no. After placing the flyer in the restaurant, I thought to myself, "Sister Robb... When you go outside, share the why..." We walked outside of the restaurant and found that same man next door standing outside, drinking his coffee. We walked past and my body literally stopped and turned to him and told him thanks for how nice and kind he is to those around him. He instantly smiled and we began to talk! As we talked, I felt like the busy streets were all shut out and it was just us and Scott. We talked about the Christmas Initiative and about the Plan of Salvation--the WHY we need a Savior.  Scott is SO incredible!! He said, "You know, you may think I'm weird, but I know that there is something waiting for me in the future.  I feel like there is a hole that I need to fill. I just need to find it." He lost a child and we are so excited to set an appointment and to teach him this week. J

-DENNIS is a whole other story!! Brother Howe works with Dennis and at work he asked him if he would like to talk with the sister missionaries. He is Catholic, but just went through a divorce and his sons are drifting away from him. He is so sweet! We had our first lesson with him and he felt the spirit so strong in our lesson. I love sharing short, powerful 15 minute lessons. Dennis just hungered for everything we said! As we knelt in prayer to close our lesson, he began to cry and say he felt the spirit and just prayed to help him be guided in all that he does. We taught him every day with our 15 minute lessons and on Sunday evening he said, "Sisters... I had a neat experience, but I don't think it's a big deal but I'll share it with you. I went out with my friend to a bar (we've been doing it for about 20 years now), but this time was different.  I didn't buy an alcohol, because I felt like it wasn't necessary. I know that when I prayed before I left, I asked to be guided by the spirit. I think I was guided to not buy a beer, is that what happened?" After teaching him the past four days, he accepted to be baptized on December 22! J He is so prepared. He recognizes the spirit. He is special. "I cannot wait for the day that I will have the Grace of God like you people... You can see it in your countenance and feel it when I'm with you. Thank you." We are so excited for him!

-The Hartley's were a less-active family that I taught when I served in Whitby. As we went over to share a lesson, before we walked in I said, "Sisters, this is going to be a great lesson! I can feel it!"  And yes... It was incredible!! Sister Hartley has finally set a goal to go to the temple on January 9th for the next temple trip!!! AH!! 

-James and Ross are great friends here in Oshawa that were baptized a year or so ago, we taught them about temples and family history and in the end James said, "Sisters, after learning about the temple today, I have a strong desire to do my family history!" We talked about that and something that I know to be true is that our family members on the other side of the veil are helping us to help them. James is also excited to go to the temple January 9th!! Miracles!!

-I had the opportunity to go work in Ajax with the Sisters while Sister Hillman and Sister Bott went to the temple with two recent converts to the temple to do baptisms.  So that was so much fun to be back in Ajax and just share the Christmas spirit side by side with them!! Oh and Rosita got baptized yesterday J Sigh. She is doing soo well!!

-Leah Jones (less-active member I worked while here in Whitby) is doing so good now! Her husband's heart was so hardened towards the missionaries and he was separated from Leah. But now she is converted to the gospel and guess what... Her husband walked up to us at the Ward Christmas Party and said, "Hey sisters, I couldn't find my Book of Mormon anywhere since I moved. Could I get a copy from you and see you sometime next week?" WHAT! Sooo cool!!!  We shared the initiative with him and he said he can't wait to now discover why and have a new start to his life J  I know that people's hearts are softened this Christmas season and there are people waiting for us to share it with them. I have seen the gospel softens people's hearts and lives are changed... It touches my heart and I know that the initiative is truly inspired from Heavenly Father.

-Angela (also another investigator we are teaching) struggled for a long time with tithing. During our lesson, it shifted to prayer and we were guided by the spirit! She felt like her faith in Christ is growing and we could feel the spirit she had about Him. We asked her if she could pull out her phone and look at a calendar, when she did that we asked her when she would like to be baptized and she said December 20th! J Sigh. She is so cute! She is the cutest Spanish lady and is excited to put aside her doubts and fears and just live Heavenly Father's commandments

-Last thing... This is where it gets crazy!!

After our fast yesterday, we just poured out our heart and gave thanks to Heavenly Father about the countless blessings that are here in Oshawa and after we did, there is a girl named Bryanne that we are teaching and she sent us a text. It said, "Do you sisters have a minute to talk? It's about baptism." YES! She just felt that day that she needed to be baptized and text us and she set herself with a baptism date for December 20th as well!! J WOW!!!  She is so cute and we are so excited to help her build her foundation in Christ where she will be strong and overcome that doubt that people have about her being baptized. 

Talk about MIRACLES!!  I am just so amazed at the path that the Savior has paved for those people we come in contact with here in Oshawa. I know that he is truly pruning the vineyard here and that the time is now. I have truly come to see that as I give my heart to Heavenly Father and submit my will to His... That's when you are able to see the direct connection from heaven to everyone around you. What an incredible light and spirit you feel... Words cannot describe the feeling of having your eyes open up in a way that has never been seen before. I love how Ephesians puts it, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling..." [Ephesians 1:17-18] I have found that hope! 

I am so grateful for the Light of Christ at this Christmas time, it truly radiates!  Jesus Christ is "the life and the light of the world", I know this to be true because I have felt the hole in my heart in the past and it is now filled as I understand the need of a Savior. I am complete because we have a loving Father in Heavenly who sent his Son, Jesus Christ. My life is changed--not only now, but for eternity. I invite you to read Helaman 14 about Samuel the Lamanite and his prophesy of Christ's birth. I know that 'Jesus Christ commanded it to be written' [3 Nephi 23:13]. What a precious gift we have, the Book of Mormon that testifies of Christ's birth at this special time of the year.

I love the gospel with all of my heart. I cling to it with everything I have and He gives me so much more in return.

Until next time...

Sister Robb

A Savior is Born

Tanya is getting baptized this Sunday!!

Transfer news: I will be leaving Peterborough for my last couple of weeks and will be heading to Oshawa to be a Sister Training Leader with the two sisters there. Sister Mosquera will be staying here with another sister who will be training another new missionary, so a cute trio companionship like me! My prayers are answered and I know she will be taken care of J

Sister Mosquera and I had an incredible week here in Peterborough! We had skills and interviews on Tuesday and it was such a great experience sitting down with President and Sister Clayton and speaking with them. Their examples of truly being a disciple of Christ have always impacted me and they have taught me so many things! As you talk with them, you can feel the love that Heavenly Father has for you and how proud he is of you.

Sister Mosquera and I were able to help Sister Beasley with her basement! When we opened the door Sister Mosquera gasped and I couldn't help but laugh! Helping her to organize things and clear out her basement. It was priceless when she walked in and was just overwhelmed with gratitude. Being a single mom with three kids is her world--so to see her joy just filled me with so much happiness, because "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

On Thanksgiving Day, Sister Mosquera and I had the opportunity to go to the temple J It was AMAZING! President Clayton now gives new missionaries (that have been out for six weeks) a chance to go to the temple. It was an incredible experience and I am so grateful that there is a temple in our mission, and that we have the opportunity to go and receive revelation for the people we work with, our area, and even for ourselves.

One thing specifically that happened this week was finding Susan Annis. Here is what happened! Our ward mission leader gave us her address and said that he ran into her--that was about four weeks ago. We tried to see her a couple of times but no answer. Finally one night during planning I said, "Sister Mosquera, we should go by again to Sister Annis. I think around 8pm... I feel like we should." So, we put our faith forward and went to go see her and she was home! After miraculously getting into the apartment building, we knocked on her door and she answered! She invited us in and we began talking with her. She was baptized when she was really little and has lived a really hard life. Her father had her smoking and drinking at around 10 years old and one day the missionaries came by and taught them the gospel and they were baptized! Not too long after that she fell away and has been going to many different churches for the last 40 years. When we knocked on her door that night she said, "Did someone send you tonight too?" We asked her what she meant and she said, "Well... My brother who lives in Trenton called me today and told me that the elders felt like they should visit him too. Maybe it's not a coincidence!" She went on saying, "I'm so happy to see you sisters! There is something different about you…..you glow... as we have been talking, I now realize, sisters, I want to come back. I need to! Can I be re-baptized?" AH! She is just so sweet and is so special.

BUT... this is special. We saw her a second time at the end of the week and just after we had taken off our coats, she said, "Guess what Sisters! I quit smoking yesterday and drinking coffee!" She began to tell us that she smokes 2 1/2 packs a day and has about six cups of coffee normally, because that's how she was raised and it has been that way for 40 years. She said, "I woke up this morning and thought of you sisters and the gospel and I went to put a cigarette in my mouth and... I didn't. I put it down and promised Heavenly Father I won't smoke, so I have the patches and have only had one cup of coffee today. Not bad after 40 years of doing it..." We celebrated and it was just so special. She makes me happy J I thank Heavenly Father for the perfect timing that this is in Sister Annis life and that I had to opportunity to be a part of starting her new life. She is amazing, I just love her so much!

Everyone else is doing great and they are on the road back to Heavenly Father is many different

Rosita from Oshawa, I love this lady so much!!

ways. They are linking their arms with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk in sacrament meeting about our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so excited for the Christmas Initiative for "A Savior is Born". It is absolutely incredible!! As I was reading the scriptures the other night of Christ's birth, I was thinking that we know the story, but do people know WHY we needed a Savior. My heart was touched and enlightened on our desperate need for a Savior, who knows us and has been through everything we've been through. Our weaknesses turn into strength, our regrets turns into goals, and our misery turns into joy. This Christmas season... Discover YOUR why J I know that as we discover this, our desire to share it with others will increase! When you have that desire, put your faith forward and share it!! Act on the promptings and feelings. I know that hearts are truly softened at this special time of year and that the Light of Christ glows and others will see it. A Savior was born and I am eternally grateful for Him in my life.

At this wonderful Thanksgiving time, I want to thank each of you for all you do. Thank you for your love of the Savior, for your dedication to His work and your commission, thank you for praying for all missionaries throughout the world, thank you for praying for those who do not yet have the restored gospel in their lives, thank you for choosing in the preexistence to come to this Earth and go throughout these experiences. Thank you. I love all of you so much and hope you feel of my gratitude and love toward you all! This Gospel is true. I know it to be! How grateful I am for the opportunities we’ve been given!

I would like you to know of the immense love and joy I feel for this work and for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He died for me, and I know that He died for you. But one greater than dying for you and I is rising for you and I. He lives today. I know it. I know that He and the Father have not ceased working miracles among our Father's children, for I know that He has called a prophet again in this last dispensation, the Prophet Joseph Smith, to prepare for the second coming of our Savior and Redeemer. How incredible that message is!! A prophet of God living upon the Earth! How INCREDIBLE! And to come to know for ourselves, all we need to do is read the evidence, the Book of Mormon, and pray and ask the all knowing, Almighty God if it is true. I know these things are true! I love the calling that we have to declare it, unceasingly, and joyfully with our brothers and sisters! How GREAT is our calling!!

Until next time...

Sister Robb

Side note:

-So many little rays of light! I talked to Rosita at the Oshawa Stake Conference a couple of weeks ago and it's been about a year since I've seen her! She is doing great and she is getting baptized this Sunday!

-The cute Hungarian girl Sunshine that walked into our English Second Language class when I was

Sunshine at her baptism!

in Mississauga was baptized a couple of days ago! J I am just so happy!

-Karolina came and visited Peterborough and was at church yesterday! Best surprise ever!! She brought along Mike Cynarski.

Carolina came to hear me speak!