What a glorious week in Brantford! It is
truly a place of miracles, and I just love being a missionary in this area.
There is never a dull moment in the day and we are always so busy! We
taught 21 lessons this past week (less-actives
and investigators) and are helping each of them become reactivated and prepare
for baptism. My new companion is Sister Mandla, she is from Australia and she is
just a powerhouse! She is a professional
singer who will perform on Broadway and has just the sweetest spirit J Sister Mandla has 17 more weeks left on her mission. I will
only be with her for 5 more weeks! Her last 2 transfers she will be training
(that's what President Clayton is having all of the people in leadership do,
train their last 2 transfers of their mission... It wouldn't be smart to be a
Sister Training leader for the rest of your mission! So, I will most likely do what she did, be a
sister training leader for 6 months and train the last 3. I am grateful to learn so many things from
her this transfer and refine myself as a missionary to whom Heavenly Father
wants me to become.
To begin, I want to tell you about a man
named Mike Slade. Mike was found about 3 months ago by the sisters, and we had
a lesson with him this week, it was so powerful! Mike is 23 years old and is
amazing. We taught him and he is so excited to be baptized! APRIL 12th is the
big day J and His last day to smoke is today!! We set a goal to stop
on his birthday and we called him last night and were just singing to him and
motivating him. He is amazing. Mike is prepared for the gospel in his life
and I am so excited to continue to teach him and to help prepare to be
baptized!
Next is David Heaney. His brother (who
was distant) was a member, but committed suicide last year... soo sad.
He told us his story and my heart just goes out to him. He then bore the strongest testimony of how he
feels that his brother has led him to the church and he wants to do all he can.
He just got over having a 'on & off'
seizure episode that lasted about 2 weeks. He is doing a lot better now and we can
finally start teaching him! We had a powerful lesson about the Book of Mormon
and he said his brother would be so proud of him for doing all that he is. We felt his brother's presence and he just
wept. We sat in silence for about 2 minutes, It gives me goosebumps just
thinking about it again. I can testify that death is not the end! Our loved
ones are not too far and are always close to us. They are nearby and some are
waiting for us to help them. What an amazing experience and testimony builder.
Brother Heaney is preparing to be baptized sometime in April (he is thinking of
April 19th), but we will have to see depending on his health. I know that
Heavenly Father truly does love each of his children... He loves YOU!
We were teaching another investigator,
Melinda, at a community home and were teaching her about the Plan of Salvation.
While we were teaching, one by one, people were entering into the gathering
room where we were. Just before we
started, I invited a man named Anthony to join us! J He sat in, and then another... and another!! So we had three people sit in on the
conversation with Melinda! It was so great! We are going back to meet two of
them. Melinda is doing okay, she is a single mother and is only 21 and really
struggles. But, she really loved the
Plan of Salvation. It brought her so much peace. You could really see it on her
face as we talked about Jesus Christ's Atonement and the purpose of our life
here on earth. During the middle of the lesson, she asked, "Wait, is there
more after we die? Will I be with Christ again someday?" I was able to
smile at her and say, "Yes Melinda. Death is not the end... Your Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ want you to come back to them someday. They love you
Melinda..." She then began to tear up and smile. What a beautiful moment
that was.
There were lots of tears of joy this week
with the people we taught, but also a lot of laughs as well J First off, I want
you to picture this man that we met: Tattoos all up and down his arm, eyebrows
pierced, shaved head, really baggy pants and long jewelry, and smokes. One day
he was walking down the sidewalk with his huge dog with a spiked collar. He was
stopped and talked to by sister missionaries last week, so they left us his
information. We went by and he showed us
his pet alligator, venomous snake and spiders, and a poisonous giant centipede!
His name is Aaron Drake. Yes, I know, "What is Sister Robb doing?" Well,
teaching the gospel! He is actually a really awesome guy and we are going to
teach him soon J Deep down inside he does have a soft
heart! I just know it. After walking out
of his home, I couldn't help but stop smiling and I said to Sister Mandla,
"You know Aaron is a pretty cool child of God." We laughed and
laughed.
We had such an amazing week! From meeting
new people in a new area, to the women's session, to singing at a baptismal
service yesterday, and having a super packed schedule. I am so grateful for the
experiences in which I am having! I am so excited to be serving in Brantford J There are so many people here that we are teaching in which
we invited them to be baptized and lots of them said yes! Less-actives who we
are visiting who are starting to come back to church and being able to help
them come back by strengthening their faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.
I am so excited to be part of an amazing
fireside that we are putting together on April 12th: The Life and Light of
Jesus Christ and Resurrection. It will be a compilation of music, scripture,
and bible videos into an amazing event celebrating Jesus Christ's life. We get
to walk with Christ more than 2,000 years ago and see his life from birth till
he was resurrected. There will be a light of Christ that no one has ever felt
or seen before. I am so excited for this
huge event in which we are helping with. It has been put on a couple of times
across Ontario and is now being put on in Brantford. The spirit has a way of
touching so many through music and this will be one of those really neat
productions!
I am so excited for conference this
week. What a privilege it is that we get
to hear our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson speak. He truly is a living prophet! I am SO
excited! HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! J #BecauseHeLIVES
Until next time...
Sister Robb
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