The Work Is Moving Forward

So transfer news!  I am staying in Mississauga for the next 6 weeks with Sister Jensen! 

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This week was an incredible week! Yesterday was Labor Day and we got to go to Toronto with our zone!  We visited Chinatown and got to see the CN tower.  It was crazy busy!  Millions of people were at the beach watching an air show and there were so many people walking on the streets. It is great to see so much diversity. That's one of my favorite things about where I am serving is meeting people from everywhere in the world! I love Ontario!

‪Last week I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Arnold!  While growing up, we went to Davis High School with each other!  To be able to work side by side with a friend I grew up with and do missionary work was simply amazing! She came to Mississauga to work with me here.  We taught Brian and he loves the Plan of Salvation! We are now trying to work with his older sister so he can be baptized somedayJ  While going to and from appointments and being busy, we had a chance to talk to people on the way... It's incredible to see how the Lord prepares people in so many different ways! We are excited to meet with some of those individuals this week that we made appointments with.  I am so grateful I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Arnold last week. It was an exchange I will never forget!

‪Some other exciting news... On Saturday, we went to the temple!! There was a large mission temple

trip for those missionaries who served an hour away from the temple. While there, it was so incredible to prepare and be able to take some question I have had and really rely and listen to the spirit to seek greater knowledge and truth. I love the temple with all of my heart! I can testify that it truly is a house of God. I know this because I feel Heavenly Father's love for me and receive answers to my questions. It's an indescribable feeling... But it's a feeling that feels like home and I'll never forget it.  What a great way to start off this next transfer and kicking off the work of salvation! J

‪Here is some incredible progress with the people we are seeing:

‪-Karolina is doing great! She is working towards getting her patriarchal blessing and we are introducing personal progress and watching conference talks. We believe that she's finished the Book of Mormon now for the fourth time... But she doesn't want to tell us.   It's so great to see her progress and really how she just love the gospel!

‪-Sandra and Sheryl are progressing slowly but surely J Sister Arnold and I went over on exchanges to teach them about church, prayer, and read (spiritual CPR) and after reading a scripture in the Book of Mormon about why we go to church to fast and pray, Sheryl said, "So from that scripture, you do fasts in the church?" After she said that, the spirit clearly indicated that we needed to talk about fasting with her and it was the most spiritual lesson I've ever taught to them.  In the end, Sandra and Sheryl's eyes were filled with tears and as Sheryl closed our lesson with a prayer, she couldn't help but cry and express how grateful she is for the opportunity for her and her sister to fast for her mother who has gone blind (within the past couple weeks) and for their family, as single mothers. They fasted on Sunday for their first time!  I'm so excited to help them progress to baptism!  October 23rd is when Sheryl wants to be baptized.

‪-We found so many returning members last week! One of them being a man named Michael McDonald. We had called him a couple of weeks ago and on Sunday he called us and said he wanted to meet with us sometime soon and to have us help him with his conversion.  We met him yesterday and he is so awesome!  He first asked us, "Where at in the Book of Mormon does King Benjamin speak?  I remember I loved reading about him.  I really also want to come to church on Sunday! Can you help me with that as well?"  He was baptized in 1993 and just fell away from the church.  He has quit smoking for the past six months and told us he quit drinking five days ago.  He loved talking with us and I said to him, "Brother McDonald, Sister Jensen and I love helping people to progress in the gospel and receive the next ordinance for themselves.  We are just guides as you link arms with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You will one day be able to go to the temple and even receive the priesthood if you live the gospel faithfully..." After I said this he looked down, pondered it, and began to tell us more about him in depth. He is SO awesome and wants to make some changes in his life.  When we walked away, we couldn't stop smiling J

‪ESL is also going great!!  Ji (the cutest old Chinese man I taught) wants me to visit China someday J Some of our students wanted to take a picture with us on Saturday! They LOVE learning English and feeling the spirit.  I shared the Book of Mormon to them on Saturday by telling them a fun fact where I live while we were learning about different countries.  "A fun fact about the states is this book [I held up the Book of Mormon] this is something Sister Jensen and I share with everyone.  There is a record of people that lived here long ago before Christ was born and testified of him that lived in the Americas. They also recorded in here of when Christ visited them after his death and resurrection and even established his gospel. This record was buried in upstate New York and was uncovered and translated in the 1800's. {testimony of Book of Mormon}." That was fun.

The Pierce's (two returning members) we are working
with.  They are from Jamaica and so nice!!

‪Those are just some of the many highlights that happened this week.  I love serving and am excited to be here for another six weeks!

‪Until next time...

‪Sister Robb

The Time Is Now

This past week I was able to go on exchanges with the Etobicoke Sisters!  I went wish Sister Stoker to Etobicoke.  I had so much fun because I got to go on buses again AND the subway which is the TTC (Toronto Transit) I was SO happy!!  I miss being surrounded by people on the buses and the subway was a first, it was really fun!! We were able to teach Chester (one of their investigators) about the importance of prayer and scripture reading!!  It was such a great lesson and we set a game plan to help him accomplish it every day and to create this habit in his life. Sister Stoker is great!!  We had a really good conversation about spiritual insight of going through challenges and life. She really needed some uplifting and it was all accomplished as we talked about the Savior.

Seeing Sister Turley, who
I trained, at the MLC meeting was great!

We had a great MLC meeting where we gave three minute creative presentations on the Work of Salvation!! It was so funny to see two elders say, "Elders and Sisters... We have been taught by Elder Russell two ways of getting in the water: 1) tiptoe in or 2) cannon ball!  That is what we are here to do today!" They both pulled out swim caps, put them on, and created a contraption where the teaching pamphlets led to domino a ball like 'a cannon ball' into an old, missionary cooking pot. We were all laughing! 

After an incredible MLC,  Sister Jensen and I went to the temple to go with Karolina to do baptisms for the dead! It was such an incredible experience! She was able to take her great-grandmother's name and we could all feel the spirit. We are so grateful that she went with the ward this temple trip and she loved it too! Yesterday in church, Karolina got to bear her testimony in sacrament meeting for our 'missionary Sunday'.  Even though it was in Polish, you could feel the spirit so strongly!!  It was fun to see Karolina do so many incredible things this week and I know that Heavenly Father is so proud of the things she is doing in her life.

We taught Matt again last week! He read ALL three pamphlets we gave him! He loved the Restoration lesson and it all made sense to him. In the end he said a great prayer for his first time and said, "I don't think I'll make another appointment because I wanted to learn and just see." It took us by surprise because he loved everything, but I know that he won't forget what was shared and will always have the materials for when he is ready for the gospel in his life.

Friday we had zone council (where we take what we learned from the Missionary Leadership meeting, and bring it to the zone).  Sister Jensen and I were asked to instruct on Faith and Repentance as we talk about church, prayer, and reading, with our recent converts, investigators, and returning members.  It was an INCREDIBLE zone council! As we role played with an elder to show the missionaries what their role play will be like, when we got to talk about church with this 'investigator'--I don't remember exactly what I said--who was struggling with this problem, I asked a question to him and the elder began to tear up. After the role play he said that is exactly what their investigator needs right now and was a silent prayer for the elder. After writing on the chalk board the commitments, I turned around to listen to the different missionaries role playing and knew that I needed to do something else.  I looked over and in the corner I saw another portable chalk board and knew I needed to write on it. I don't know why or what I was going to put, but that I just received the biggest prompting to do that. This is what I drew on the chalkboard: 

"Now is the moment in the timetable of the Lord to carry the gospel farther than it has ever been carried before...  Let us take new courage..." -Spencer W. Kimball-

Underneath this quote, I put:

'The Work of Salvation in THE 

CANADA TORONTO MISSION.

The time is NOW."

After everyone finished up role playing and we gave them their commitments, we turned around the chalkboard and bore testimony of the things that will be happening in the Canada Toronto Mission. Tears were shed and prayers were answered. What an incredible meeting it was!!

ESL was super fun this week! I got to teach these two, older Chinese men in the corner of class.  They are SO cute!! We went over the vocabulary and I got to help them pronounce the words. One is named Ji and the other is Jian-Hua. It was so exciting to see them both get excited of being able to pronounce English words. I just love Chinese people!! J 

A scripture I love that sums up the week is D&C 123: 13-14, 17

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with greatness.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I just love being a missionary! When we are cheerful as we share the gospel, we truly radiate the light of Christ that we have. I am so grateful to see Heavenly Father's hand in everything we do.  I am so excited for everything to start for the mission tomorrow. People will be watching and I know President Tomas S. Monson and many others will be watching our mission as well.  The mission that Tomas S. Monson once used to be mission president for J I love it and can't wait for the week ahead of us! So exciting!

Until next time...

Sister Robb

Standing Out

This week was the craziest and weirdest week! There are a couple of funny stories I'll share with you.  

First off...  

Returning members! highlights 

We are so excited to be working with a single mother--Sister Ford--in helping her get to the temple! We taught the Restoration and the spirit was so strong. I asked her kids how their experiences have been when they go to the temple and they have loved it! Sister Ford opened up and said that she has never gone inside the temple... She told us that she has a great-great grandfather who passed away years ago and wants to have his work done, but doesn't know how to do family history or where to even get started in going to the temple. She's always been too afraid to ask. We are so excited to be working with her and help her live the Law of Tithing to work towards the temple.  J 

Buying and delivering Caf Lib to Sister Phelan

Sister Phelan is progressing! It was the best week ever and she has completely opened up to us. After we talked about Joseph Smith again and him being led to the golden plates, she has the biggest desire to read the Book of Mormon now!! We sang 'Joseph Smith's First Prayer' and she loved it. She now wants to keep a journal for herself like the people in the Book of Mormon and guess what... We finally were able to pry her coffee from her in exchange of some Caf Lib (which is a natural coffee replacement and isn't bad for you!) She loved our journal ideas, the Caf Lib, and the spirit she felt this week…. SCORE!! She is doing so great!!  

Kenia is a less-active member that we stopped by on her birthday and surprised her with a miniature

Delivering a birthday cake to Kenia

cake and a card!! We sang to her and she just lost it and gave us a giant hug. She invited us in and we had a great conversation. She told us about her life and open up to us spiritually as well. She was even surprised at the stories she told us. She just needed to be reached out and shown love. She doesn't remember anything about the gospel and we are excited to help bring that back to her remembrance and have it become a way of life again! She was baptized in 1995 and moved right after and disappeared. Missionaries ran into her a couple of years ago and no one has done too much with her. She is so cute!! This week’s lesson to answer her questions: temples, God's love, and  how can I access that in my life?  It's going to be great!! 

Second...  

Recent converts! highlights 

Karolina is awesome!! Long story short, we got news that our reservations--for Karolina to go to the temple for the recent convert trip--didn't work out and that she isn't able to go on September 5th. After much thought I said, "Wait... Didn't bishop mention weeks ago about a ward temple trip next week?" We called bishop and after everything... She got her first temple recommend yesterday!! When we sat down for sacrament meeting, she pulled it out of her bag and showed it to me. She had the biggest smile on her face and after putting it in her bag, she put her head on my shoulder for a minute and said, "Thank you." in English.  We'll be going this Wednesday and she'll be able to do her great-great grandmother's ordinance for her. AH!  I Cannot wait! 

Mike has been struggling lately and we prayed a lot for him last week. After much prayer and thought, we knew that he needed to connect with a person from the Book of Mormon to help him with his trials and struggles right now.  First came into both of our minds was Captain Moroni. We read Alma 43 with him and after the chapter ended with a cliff hanger, he said before we could invite him, "Tonight I'll read Alma 44 and see what happens to Moroni.  He's a pretty cool guy. I like him."  We couldn't stop smiling J  "You know Mike... I like Moroni too..."  

Lastly... 

Our investigators! highlights 

Brian is so awesome! [Background]: Brian's parents both died while he and his siblings were growing up. Brian and his siblings are about 40-50 years old and they all live with each other. We shared with Brian the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson.  Our only problem is that he wants to be baptized!  BUT... His older sister won't let him.  It's so sad!  There is not much you can do with that. We will just continue to pray for him and for his sisters heart to be softened. 

Sandra and Sheryl are doing good! After out lesson last week, Sheryl pulled us aside and said, "Sisters... I came across a verse in the Book of Mormon that I don't quite agree with. I got kind of upset at work and knew that I needed to pray, after I prayed... I felt peace and told myself, 'I'm seeing the sisters and I know they will answer my question. Everything will be fine.' She told us her concern/question and we were able to resolve it with her! She still reads the Book of Mormon at work and is just so great! I love her so much!  She truly is a sincere seeker of truth.  She is beginning to recognize the spirit as well. J

New investigators from last week: 

-Mason and Camilla are both ESL students!! We are excited to not only teach and improve their English... But to teach them about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and improve their relationship with him. 

Here's a funny story: 

So... Sister Jensen and I were blitzing for ESL and taping posters on the cross walk corners. We were crossing the cross walk and I smiled and said hi to this young man walking by... He looked up surprised and smiled back and said hi.  He saw that we were putting up posters and pulled a tab and wanted to text us.  So he texted the Chinese sisters and said (in short) "there was a red head who said hi and wanted to ask her out"... AH!!!  So the sisters texted us his cell phone... We texted back and forth about our purpose and he said he actually wanted to learn more about Christ!! He drove himself to the church and we were able to teach him yesterday and He is awesome!!! Haha! [Background]: Matt doesn't have too much background on Christ, but asked some really good questions about him!  He wants to learn more about his teachings and apply them in his life.  As we were walking out, I had copied off a chart for a member of Christ's last week of his life and Matt said, "After your lesson today, I am going to get started on learning more about Christ, could I have that chart to start?" We said sure and he walked out of the church with all three pamphlets (Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and Gospel of Jesus Christ) and a chart of Christ's last week of his life. The Lord prepares people in interesting ways sometimes! Good thing I have red hair to stand out! J

Serving with your "heart, might, mind, and strength" (D&C 4:2) has really taken on a new meaning

this past week! I feel so privileged to be serving a mission here in Canada. The experiences, memories, and everything we do is centered on Jesus Christ. I love the people here and the knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel--that has been revealed to me--has not only strengthened my testimony... But has changed me forever J

Until next time... 

Sister Robb