We're All Shepherds

This week has been a bit of a slow week.  On the bright side, the weather has warmed up a bit, which  

has been so nice! Even though it's March break here in Canada, we are going full force spreading the good news of the gospel.

We found some less-actives in the ward who want to go back to church!  I felt like we should take some time to visit the less-actives on the ward list who don't have phone numbers and see if they moved.  In doing this, we did find some that have moved, but we found some potentials that we shared our purpose and our testimonies of the gospel with.  We then came across Sonia Merino from El Salvador who wasn't on the ward list, just her husband Luis Merino. When she opened the door after knocking, she invited us in and was just so happy to see us!  We were able to teach her part of the Plan of Salvation about our life here on earth with the Atonement.  She was so moved by the short and powerful lesson!  The spirit was so strong in the room and she basically begged us to come back again!  We visited them a couple of days ago and met Luis who is just the funniest guy.  We are seeing her and her husband again today, so that was a great find.  Sonia kept telling us that Luis and her want to go back to church but it's an on and off thing and they need a bit of help.  I told her with confidence, that we are the right people to help them!

We also met a young man named Andre while tracting.  We basically shared the entire restoration lesson with him on his doorstep and gave him a Book of Mormon that he said he is excited to read fromJ  He said that he has heard of Mormons but never the Book of Mormon!  He is great and we are fortunate to be able to go back and follow up seeing him today which will be great. 

This week I have been thinking about how Christ is a shepherd.  In Luke 15:4-5 it says, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." I am always turned back to the picture of Christ holding the little baby sheep in his arms. I then think, what qualities does a good shepherd have?  We are all shepherds. I know that Jesus Christ is our shepherd and that we are continuing to find our brothers and sisters who are lost.  Are we rejoicing like Christ when we go out of our way to find and help?  Sharing the gospel is joyful! J Truly, it does bring us so much happiness.  I know this to be true because I have never been happier in my life than now.    

This Gospel is so true!  Nothing brings me greater joy! I know that this is God's work, were it not, I would not be feeling the tremendous emotions I experience every day I work harder than I've ever worked in my life.  His Truth is restored, and He wants all to know of it, therefore, I want all to know the Truth as well! Let's share it with each other, for I know that this is the only way that we can return to live our Father in Heaven, and how beautiful that knowledge is!!! We have the truth, now let's go share it with all we know and love!

Until next time...

Sister Robb

One Day, One Person at a Time

This week has been a roller coaster experience!!  

With Louis & Faye at the Toronto Temple

First of all, Louis and Faye went to the temple! I am so grateful and blessed that I had the opportunity to go and be there for them.  The Toronto Temple is beautiful! Sister Turley and I were able to be in the temple for a few hours before the session started (which was such an amazing experience). When we came down we saw Faye coming out of the dressing room--all dressed in white--having done her own initiatory. She immediately came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and began to cry. She kept on saying, "thank you, thank you".  Right then and there, I felt Heavenly Father was telling me "thank you" as well.  It was such an amazing experience, and feeling that I will never forget.

We had a challenge in our district to see how many driveways we could shovel?  Well, Sister Turley and I took on the challenge (we love these kinds of things...) and shoveled 11 driveways in one day!! Haha. Well... It was shoveling and ice picking the driveway more than anything. So that was fun!  My dad has taught me some good skills as far as shoveling goes!  Yes, we also won the challenge! J Yahoo!

Here is a funny experience: Sister Turley and I were tracting one day and it was sooo icy and windy. We were walking down the sidewalk after the first house and I about fell face-first but thankfully caught myself.  After a minute of just laughing, we then trekked onward. When we were on the opposite side of the street, I then hit another patch of ice and fell into the snow and then onto the ground and just sat there on the ground and laughed. I got up and right then Sister Turley slipped and fell... We couldn't stop laughing and laughing and laughing! Afterward, I looked at her and said, "We have to walk like penguins!" She then replied, "That's why penguins walk the way they do." Haha... Yes... We pretty much were in the arctic that day and now know why penguins walk the way they do. I sure love Canada J

P Day visiting some of the sites in our zone.  This is the
McLaughlin Parkwood estate Mansion - used in several movies

 Louis was called on yesterday in sacrament meeting and was able to bear his testimony.  He got up and began to tell of the blessing that he has received in his life and how temples truly are a piece of heaven on earth. The gospel has changed his life and now he knows who he is, what his purpose here on earth is, and what he needs to do to return to live with his Heavenly Father. He testified the love in which we feel as we draw closer to God. We are all children of God--He always has and will always love us--we just need to go to him and He will always show us. He ended off by saying that he couldn't wait to be sealed in October for all time and eternity to his wife Faye. What an incredible testimony!  It made me tear up just seeing someone, who I truly do care about, progress in Heavenly Father's kingdom. Even though we are one, we can make the biggest difference in someone's life. ONE DAY, ONE PERSON AT A TIME. I have such a strong testimony of this and can testify that we are all instruments and are here to help our brothers and sisters. They need us. I pray that you will continue to help our brothers and sisters, No matter where you are.  Pray for opportunities to help and teach others! If we go to Heavenly Father with a sincere heart to help... I know that He will help you as you help him J 

Until Next time......

Sister Robb

The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round....

Having a little fun in the snow!

I can say that I have survived the coldest February on record here in the Toronto area! With the wind chill, it is about -33 degrees Celsius on most days! Once this past week it hit -36... Now that's cold. But, all is well here in Canada for me, I have learned to “bundle” up and dress in multiple layers!

Some exciting news for this week!  I will be able to attend the temple this Thursday (March 5th) with Louis and Faye to receive their Endowments. What an exciting time it is!  I have been looking back to when I first met them in November... what an amazing opportunity it has been for me to be able to see them grow in the gospel and to apply those principles in their lives. They are so spiritual, and truly have the light of Christ shinning through them. They continue to tell us that they are so blessed to have the gospel and realizing this, has got them so excited to attend the temple and make those sacred covenants with Heavenly Father. I am truly so blessed to be able to have shared this experience with them and with the Savior, helping them walk to the temple. They are so excited and counting down the days to when they will be sealed for all time and eternity in October J  I love them both so much!

‪This week has been a test of my faith, but all is good.  We are working hard, trying to build up the area here in Ajax and it has been a bit difficult for some reason, I just can't seem to figure out why. Swaney (the man that came to church last week in the hip suit J) texted us the middle of last week and said that he would not be meeting us anymore, which is so sad; it happens though. So what do we do? Keep pushing forward and TALK WITH EVERYONE, ALWAYS. I looked at Sister Turley during planning and said, "Lets go crazy on the bus and talk with everyone tomorrow."

‪We boarded the bus and throughout the day I always carried a Book of Mormon in my hand.  While on the bus Saturday afternoon we began sharing the gospel and we were able to hand out 5 Book of Mormons within two hours!  I met a man from Nigeria, his name was Isaac.  I began telling him about the Restoration of the gospel and he looked down in my hand and asked what book I carried? I told him it's the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I began to show him the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon and explain to him what it is, why we have it, and my testimony. During this time, a French man who sat not too far from Sister Turley in the back, was so upset at what I was doing he got up, walked to the front of the bus, and started talking to the bus driver in French. The driver just shrugged his shoulders and kept driving. The man walked back to his seat and sat down. Isaac and I didn't even seem to notice anything that was happening around us! Sister Turley told me about this after we had gotten off and I just couldn't help but laugh.  I am so grateful for the spirit that was felt "to block ourselves from the world" in a sense while I was having this teaching moment with one of Heavenly Father's children.  He began to tell me he lives in Whitby, so I gave him the church information for there and the sister missionaries information.  He said he will read 3 Nephi 11 and give the sisters a call when he's done. 

‪I also talked to an Italian lady on the bus and she said that I looked familiar and that I knocked on her door a while ago.  Funny huh! She's Italian and I was able to try and teach her again.  She took a Book of Mormon and got off the bus. Who knows what will happen! I love going on buses. They are the best!  I felt that each person I was able to give a Book of Mormon to was uplifted spiritually. It was so fun just to make people smile on the bus and help them enjoy life. Everyone was cold and it was dead silent on the bus, while I was standing up,  I looked at the Asian couple next to me and asked, "How has your Saturday been?" Everyone just looked at me. It was fun, because soon people started joining in on the conversation and telling me how their day was... The bus came to life J  I learned a valuable lesson, just by saying hello to people and noticing them that you can make a difference.  No one does that anymore.  It seems natural and easy for me, so that was fun. 

‪

Helping the Elders in our zone clean out
the Oshawa South apartment that shut down

I just love being a missionary!  I truly wish that I could convey in words the joy that I feel as I serve my Savior, Jesus Christ. So unlearned, young, simple, and unqualified, God has called me, He has called you, to share His Gospel with all others. I was learning more about the Stripling Warriors. Did you know the word "stripling" just means young? I always thought it meant they were very strong. But young is all it means! I love how they had never fought before and had no experience yet they just knew that what they were doing was the right thing to do, and consequently, they conquered their task at hand with the help of our Heavenly Father. It doesn't matter how young or how unqualified or insecure or whatever else our stumbling block may be, if we own up to our task at hand with the help of our Heavenly Father, with our faith in our Savior evident in our words and deeds, we WILL conquer! How simple it is! Alone; we fail. With God; we win, every time. I don't know about you, but I'd like to win, especially if it means eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. How sweet that knowledge is!

I am so excited to go to the temple this week and to continue to help my brothers and sisters by sharing the gospel.  The gospel is good news and makes me so happy! It gives me purpose and perspective.  I'll continue to do my best to help find those who are prepared for the gospel here in Ajax!  A quote I love from Gordon B. Hinkley says, "Our Eternal Father lives. He stands as the great God of the universe, ruling in majesty and power. And yet, He is my Father, to whom I may go in prayer with the assurance that He will hear, listen, and answer." 

‪Until next time...

‪Sister Robb

‪

Pure Eternal Joy

Beautiful, Snowy, Canada!

What a great week! Truly, the work is beginning and continuing to roll forth here in Ajax!  From jump starting people's car, and shoveling driveways, I am grateful for snow. It may sound weird, but it's true!  In doing service for people, we have found a couple of potential investigators! Overall, we were able to find 17 new potential investigators! Through much work, service, faith, and love, the end result is fantastic! So I’m a bit excited about that and cannot wait to see miracles take place in the future!

‪Here is a story that just touches my heart that happened last week. Remember a lady by the name of Sher? The day when I felt prompted to call her and she said, "I am so grateful you called me. This made my entire week. It gives me goosebumps to think that you just felt that you needed to call me. Thank you."  Well, great news, we were actually able to see her! Sher is going through some really hard things in her life: her mom has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and only has two months to live, her catering business is not doing well, she is currently going through a divorce and is trying to take care of her 6 year old girl alone.  I loved our visit!  She is so amazing and so spiritual.  We just listened to her, comforted her, and brought her some hope through the gospel.  At the end we were able to go upstairs to meet her mom who has the terminal cancer!  She is a 80-90 year old and is just this frail, bony lady who just loves Jesus J Sher had to go so it was just us with her mom.  Unfortunately, she was in a lot of pain.  It was so hard to see her just pointing to her stomach and saying that she hurts and then would just look at me, with her eyes pleading to help her.  I felt so useless and I couldn't do anything to help her pain.  So, I picked up her hand and rubbed her back while we talked to her. She looked up at me and asked if I could sing to her... So I did.  I could barely hold back the tears while I sang "I Am a Child of God". The spirit was so strong.  It was so tangible that you could feel it. We talked about when Christ visits the Americas in the Book of Mormon and she told us that it was a lovely story. "As long as it's Jesus" she would say. At the end of being with her, you could tell that she was more calm and feeling a little better. She looked at me and said, "You're an angel... I'm not in pain anymore. Thank you, Thank you." As we gave her a hug on the way out, she didn't want to let go of me. What a tender experience it was to be able to be with her and to love and help one of Heavenly Father's children. 

‪We had a lesson with Ogai Abungawo! She was the referral from last year that we visited who wanted a bible.  While there, the spirit was so strong.  We went there--completely guided by the spirit--and taught her. We were surprised to find ourselves talking about the Book of Mormon with her and the Plan of Salvation. We explained the Book of Mormon and how they support one another.  One cool experience was that after dong so, I bore my testimony of how the Book of Mormon answers my questions of what happens after we die and where I will be going.  She asked me what happens!  I was able to tell her and share with her a couple of scriptures... Then she told us that her uncle had passed away a couple of weeks ago and she just wanted to know. What a powerful lesson! We had no idea that had happened to her! She said she will begin to read the Book of Mormon J I walked out of the lesson and I looked and Sister Turley and said, "What just happened?" and couldn't stop smiling. I am truly so blessed to be able to witness the power of the spirit helping me to teach others, strengthen their faith and testimony in Jesus Christ, and not just to share them lesson. What a miracle! 

‪Lastly, Swaney came to church yesterday!! J We called him on Saturday to remind him about church and his ride, he told us he'd wear a suit and he did! He wore this "goldish-matted" colored suit with a purple shirt and tie! Ha-ha, It was so great! Everyone welcomed him so nicely and he was answering questions in Gospel Principles about the Gathering of Israel, It was awesome.  He told us in the end that church was a bit different, but that he liked it!  He should be coming to church next week and we will continue to teach him.  OH! And along with Swaney, we will be teaching a lady named Ruby who we have been keeping in touch with, who is a co-worker of a member in the ward! It's so great!  

‪Last week was full of little blessings that I can't put all into a letter.  It's hard to explain, I felt like I was getting glimpses of what pure 'eternal' joy is J I know I am here for a reason and I have seen so many changes come to me as an individual. I have seen it countless times in other people's lives that I have come in contact with.  I am changed! The gospel has truly opened up my mind and myself spiritually.  It's true that when you loose yourself in the service of others, you find yourself.  I have found myself, linking arms with my Heavenly Father on my side.  It's so great! 

‪I love this quote from Neil L. Andersen, who said, "If you're not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart--painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.' " How true that is!  I know that I'm not going to be a full-time missionary who wears my badge all of my life sadly, and I can't believe that I have been serving for almost 8 months now, but no matter what, I am so fortunate to have the gospel in my life.  How sweet is my joy and the truth of the gospel that it brings!  It's sooo joyous!! We have the glass full of water always in front of us that we can drink from daily, so when we have the chance to help other people find water, Do it! Those who "wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:12). The gospel is RESTORED! We have the knowledge! Let us share the water with those who are needing it and searching for it J Maybe they don't even know that they are missing it.  Please don't be afraid, I promise and know that Heavenly Father will bless you. I have seen the Lord's hand in all that I do! Most people are afraid, so try telling Heavenly Father about it! He hears and answers prayers and will help you overcome your fears. The gospel is true because I have prayed to know for myself if these things are true.  Indeed it is J Sorry for the ranting, but I just felt that I needed to say this!  Can't wait for another amazing week!

‪Until next time...

‪Sister Robb