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