Sincere Prayer

This week was so meaningful and continued to strengthen my testimony in so many ways.

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Tanya & Shelley Sweet attend the temple

First off, Tanya Sweet and her mom Shelley Sweet went to the temple on Saturday J and it was an incredible day!  When we first got to the temple with them, I could tell that they were nervous.  As I said a silent prayer for them, I received a strong feeling that everything would be okay and it would be a great night. There were so many people doing baptisms for the dead. The mission temple trip was huge!  No matter the size, the spirit was felt so strongly.  I had the great opportunity to work as a temple worker again and hand towels to people after baptisms.  It was incredible to see those coming to the temple for the first time and feeling the spirit so strong as they did special work for their loved ones; their mothers, fathers, grandparents, cousins and so forth.  One thing that was really special for me this time was that I was able to bring some of my own family names to the temple--thanks to my little brother Carson.J  I was talking to one of the recent converts after the temple trip and she said, "After I did my mother's name, I was able to be baptized for some German lady with a really long name..." I looked at her, smiled and said, "That was one of my family names that you got to do!" Telling her thank you and giving her a hug really touched my heart. Tanya and Shelley had an incredible time doing their mom and grandmother's names that night.  I just love the temple!

‪We met with an INCREDIBLE lady named Tanya Baptie! I love her so much! She is a daughter of a member who was baptized when she was younger and became less-active BUT, she has been coming back to the gospel and is amazing.  She is so excited to have sisters in the ward and wants us to start teaching her.  She doesn't know if she needs to be re-baptized, we're just waiting for that information to come in. She quit smoking cold turkey last Sunday and still hasn't had a cigarette. She prays for strength everyday and when we showed her the church app for her phone and how you can listen to The Book of Mormon read aloud, she couldn't stop smiling and just threw her arms around us and gave us a giant hug. We are so excited to help her J When we were coming back after visiting with her, I said to Sister Mosquera, "She is really special..." and couldn't stop smiling myself. 

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All the "sisters" at zone council

Zone Council was incredible! One powerful experience that I had was when we were talking about prayer and the Atonement. We then had the opportunity to go into a room inside the church as a companionship and say a prayer to Heavenly Father together.  This is an experience I will never forget.  We knelt down on the floor together (like we do multiple times everyday) and Sister Mosquera said the first prayer.  She said the most sincere prayer in the best English she possibly could... The spirit was so strong in that little room. After I said the prayer, I looked at Sister Mosquera and she was just in tears--reaching over, I put my arms around her and hugged her for a minute. She understood every word of my prayer and I KNOW that it was because of the spirit. What an incredible companionship bonding experience as we talked with Heavenly Father in sincere prayer. 

For P day today, a member drove us to the mountain to visit
Thomas S. Monson Camp....so happy to be in the mountains!

‪Overall... It was a great week.  This past week I have been studying the Atonement. I love what David O. McKay said, "The purpose of the gospel is...to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature." I know that our purpose here in life is to progress!  My study of the Atonement was amazing and I hope that as I share what I have learned, that the spirit will touch your heart and teach you something that you need at this time. 

‪First: Putting off the natural man--I read from King Benjamin about "putting off the natural man and becoming a saint through the atonement of Christ" (Mosiah 3:19). Second: to make "good men better"--in other words, become more Christlike. As I studied this, I know that it will take a lifetime to understand, but as I learned more about the Atonement overall, it really helped me see that the Atonement is everything! 

‪The Atonement is more than just a redeeming and cleansing power, but also a strengthening and enabling power! We know that Jesus Christ came and died for us, but we also need to recognize that it empowers us! The Atonement is for everyone J The word I have heard quite a bit on my mission that I never quite understood (and am still learning about) is grace. The bible dictionary puts it more simply than I ever could! "...through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of our their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means..." The only person that did anything ever alone is Jesus Christ.  I know that we are never alone and that we truly are strengthened to do and be good and serve beyond what we would ever be able to do by ourselves. 

‪Now...The Book of Mormon is truly our handbook of instructions while we are here on this earth, traveling the path from becoming good to better and to have our hearts changed.  I LOVE the many, many examples I find in the scriptures of some of those I cherish and look up to in so many ways. For example, Nephi and his perspective of the Atonement truly transformed him--he knew, understood, and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior. After Nephi exhorted his brothers to have faith in the Lord, they bound him up with cords and were planning his destruction.  Nephi prays and says, "O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound" (1 Nephi 7:17) He didn't pray ‘to get out of the situation and mess NOW' or to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances.  I know that he prayed this way because he understood and had experienced the power of the Atonement in a special way. The bands didn't just magically fall, but rather he was blessed with personal strength beyond his own to break the cords that kept him tied.  I know that as we pray like Nephi did, you will come to understand a new light that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ and it will touch your life--from good to better J

‪I love the scriptures with all of my heart and am SO grateful to learn more about the Atonement everyday.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he is why I am here.  Love to all!

‪Until next time...

‪Sister Robb

I love Peterborough!  The scenery is Beautiful!!

Linking Arms

This week was a great week to really see how Heavenly Father influences other people in their life. 

ESL students Eghbal (left) Hatem (right)

Siser Mosquera's English is getting better! Slowly and surely. There was one time she said something to me in Spanish and looked at me in desperation.  I tried so hard to understand... With the spirit and guidance... We were able to be on the same page.  It takes a while, but we get there! She is now understanding her purpose as a missionary and is just growing!! It's hard to explain through words, but I am so grateful for this opportunity and privilege to be with her.  I just love her!

The Pio's are getting there! They really are going through so many things that are deeply rooted. We are excited to really work hand in hand with the ward here in Peterborough and help them in every way possible.  It really touched my heart as I poured out my heart to our ward mission leader and began to explain to him things they are going through, he looked at the other ward missionaries and said, "We need to do something for the Pio's now..." And they began to delegate assignments and are excited to create a plan with the ward council this Wednesday. What a blessing it is as a missionary to be so closely linked with the ward and be able to connect arm in arm.  I know that this is how missionary work should be!  Heavenly Father wants us all to work together arm in arm with each other to help everyone we can to come unto Christ.  Peterborough is a very special place.

When we went over to the Pio's house, we made a giant calendar for November! J  Dayton (9 year old recent convert) was just SO excited about this calendar!!  After our lesson, he grabbed two tacks and gave them to his dad to hang up above the couch. We had to go over the Plan of Salvation twice, and that's okay! It's really what they needed and they took so much from the lessons we were able to share and show them.  Brother Pio told us, "After these last cigarette packs, I won't buy anymore. I want to quit. I need to."  So he is doing well... They are going through so much right now.  So much prayer and fasting is needed, they are getting there!

We are excited for this week because we have some potential investigators that we met and have appointments with! J I'll have to tell you about them next week.

I had a really incredible experience this morning with Sister Mosquera for our companionship study. There is a reason why I am back to the Oshawa Stake and in Peterborough. I had many flashbacks from the four transfers I served in the Oshawa Stake--Whitby and Ajax. Next week is Stake Conference and I know that I will see several people that I had the chance of teaching that will be there.  I am back in the Oshawa Stake for a reason... And I know that because the spirit touched my heart so strong.  I was brought to tears and realized that those that I was so blessed to come in contact with while being here in Ontario is for a purpose.  I am truly so grateful for every single individual that has touched my life and heart while here.

November is the month of gratitude.  May we all have a grateful heart.

I will be forever grateful for……

This opportunity to serve the Lord!

The inspired leaders I’ve learned from

The atonement of our Savior and Redeemer

Becoming a missionary rather than just serving a mission

The Book of Mormon.  That book is incredible!

I need to be off, but I wish for all of you to feel how joyful I am in this work!!  It’s true, all of it!  I know our God is a living, loving Father in Heaven who, because He loves us, sent His Son, Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world so that we may, through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be able to return to His presence with our families, in peace and joy, for eternity!  I know that these things are true because I have read the evidence of this restored Gospel, the Book of Mormon, and I have prayed and asked my Father if it is true, and He has witnessed it to me by the power of the Holy Ghost.  This is true, I know it to be!  How grateful I am for this knowledge!  How great is our calling to share this restored gospel upon the Earth at this time!  Let us share it with all!! :)

Until next time...

Sister Robb

Following The Spirit

 This week was so full of joy, miracles, and hard work J  First off, my new companion is Sister Mosquera! Sister Mosquera is from Pasto, Colombia! It's in the north part of Central America. She is just absolutely incredible! She has grown up with the gospel all of her life, and her parents are converts to the church. One of the great things I love about Sister Mosquera is her desire to learn! She has learned English for a little over a year now and was only in the MTC for 12 days! So our days consist of spelling, pronunciation, missionary work, pronunciation, missionary work, etc.  I get to teach her English every day! She is so cute! There is a reason why she came out the day she did, and I am just SO grateful that I get to be her companion and to really help her.

We had an incredible week in Peterborough!  Peterborough is one of the cutest places I have served. There are so many trees and it's just a little city that is out in the middle of nowhere in some ways J  It was a great shock to the members here when they saw two sister missionaries and not elders!! It has been almost two years since sisters served here and there is SO much work that needs to be done!!  I loved getting to hug all of the sisters in Peterborough, it's been a long time since a missionary could hug them. J

Our first night after arriving to Peterborough, we found that we had a dinner 30 minutes later!  So we quickly gathered our stuff, I grabbed the map, and navigated to the cute Fukushima's home.  They are the cutest, older Japanese couple.  After we shared a message with them, Sister Fukushima just hugged us and said she felt the spirit so strong. So that was a great start to our first day after having a dinner and meeting with our amazing bishop that night. 

We were able to do some service this week!  The missionaries were knocking on some doors and came across a less-active member and they told the relief society about her. One of the ladies stopped by to say hello and found her in the worst conditions ever. She had an invasion of ticks. She didn't have her medication and couldn't process what was happening. Her memory was failing and her health was extremely poor. So Sister Partridge called the ambulance and they took her to the hospital.  All in all, her situation wasn't good whatsoever.  BUT, after burning every single bug with a heat treatment, Sister Mosquera and I with some relief society sisters went in and cleaned like crazy!! We were able to see Sister Seymour and talk with her for a short bit and she is excited to go back to this week. We love service!

We are working with some incredible people here in Peterborough!

-Austin [18 years old] He is a recent convert of about one and a half months. We sat down with him and got to talk with him about going to the temple on November 13th with the youth J He is SO excited and we get to see him about three times a week to help him prepare for the Aaronic Priesthood.  His life story and conversion is incredible.  Three months ago... He really had no life.  Bad family, bad everything.  So his grandma took him in and to look where he is at now--baptized, working, and reading his scriptures, etc--is soo incredible.  He is great and we are so excited to work with him!!

-The Sweets [Shelly and Tanya] are sisters and got baptized last year and we are so excited to help them go to the temple and have set a date for November 7th! We are doing all that we can to help them go! They don't really know what they need to do to go there!!  I'll keep you updated on them!! Oh yeah... Tanya's husband is not a member and is learning. 

-Pio family [Todd, Dayton, Elizabeth...] They are a less-active family that we are working with and Dayton got baptized last month! They are going through many difficult things right now in their life.  BUT, We had an AMAZING lesson yesterday!! President and Sister Clayton were passing by and gave us some Spanish materials we needed for Sister Mosquera. We were talking with them and I told them that we had to get going since we have a lesson to go to! President Clayton said, "Well, we have some time. Who are you going to teach and we will come with you!" So... President and Sister Clayton came yesterday to our lesson with the Pio's. What an incredible experience that was!  As we taught the Restoration very clearly and simply, the spirit was able to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel to their hearts. Sigh….It was so good!

A story that has touched my heart was after our lesson with the Pio's. We were going to a dinner appointment and as I got out of the car, I saw two men standing at a corner of the sidewalk talking. I walked over and introduced ourselves.  After talking for a minute, one of the guys had to keep walking since he had Parkinson's disease, so we talked with Kirk a while longer.  After asking him how he was, he said, "Not good at all."  He looked away and said, "Why did you come talk to me?" I told him that I felt we should because the spirit told me in my mind and heart that I needed to.  He began to cry and tell us that it wasn't a coincidence that we met him. He was down on life and thinking life was not worth living anymore and that he had contemplated considering taking his own life.  Can you imagine that?  As we talked with him, I knew that it wasn't coming from us, but from the spirit. I talked with him for a bit and I looked at Sister Mosquera and prayed that the spirit will help her know what to say. She couldn't quite understand our conversation, so I smiled at her and nodded my head to share her testimony. She bore a powerful testimony and couldn't help but cry in doing so. After we talked with him, it was exactly what he needed to hear: That there was a Heavenly Father and He loved him and that there is more to the Atonement of Jesus Christ then covering for our mistakes. We talked for a while on the street and when I knew that he was doing better, we left him with the Plan of Salvation pamphlet. We were able to set an appointment and are so excited to see Kirk tonight to help him out. 

After this happened, I wrapped my arm around Sister Mosquera and had a talk with her. "This is what missionary work is all about. As you follow the spirit, you are led to those who need you Sister Mosquera." She began to cry and said, "Sister Robb... I now am understanding my purpose as a missionary..." What an incredible and powerful week it was!!

I am just so truly grateful for the spirit in leading and guiding--not only us--but Heavenly Father's children. The light of Christ is real and others see it.  I am so excited to be with Sister Mosquera here in Peterborough and get to work!  I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the experiences and moments that I will cherish forever. I am so grateful for temples that we have and are able to feel so close to the spirit while there.

Until next time...

Sister Robb

Last Transfer in Canada!

We got the call last night and, I AM TRANSFERING & TRAINING!!! J I AM SO EXCITED!! I will be 'whitewashing' into an area (where both companions are new) into Peterborough.  It's in the Oshawa Zone and I cannot wait!!  It will be the farthest north in my mission I will go.

Last week I went on two exchanges!

-Don Valley: Sister Westerlind--She is awesome! She came to Mississasauga with me and we were able to teach Brian and talk about temples and family history.  As we talked about the temple, he got really silent and just looked down.  I said, "Brian... You'll someday be able to do temple work for your mom. I know that you are feeling the spirit and that is because the temple is the most precious and sacred place on earth. I know she is so proud of you right now..." Brian looked up and said, "...How do you know that?" I said, "The spirit has touched my heart and told me to say that.  Don't be too hard on yourself Brian and never give up!" "...Hey...That's what my mom used to say to me." Sister Westerlind and I had an incredible lesson with Brian and he got himself signed up for family history and we were able to put in his parents and grandparents. He is doing great! Lastly, we followed up with Brian about something... This is how it went:

"Brian! We're so excited to hear about your experience in watching the October 2014 general conference CD's we gave you last time. What talks were you able to watch from it?"
"All of them."
"Wait... You watched all of one of the CD's we gave you?"
"Yes.... I watched all of the CD's you gave me. It was good."
"Brian... [holding up CD case], did you know you watched 11 hours?! In two days?!" 
"[Brians smiles]"

Yes. He is doing great and he loves the Book of Mormon stories!! We also got to teach Sister Stranges about Patriarchal Blessings that day and she is now preparing to receive hers, so that's exciting!!

I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Arnold again!! Man... We did SO much that day!! We literally ran from appointment to appointment.  It was an incredible day where following the spirit in lessons was all we did.  She is such an incredible example to me and it has been amazing to see the progress she has made and the refinement that is brought into her life because of her mission, I love her so much!

Here are some updates on people!

-Brother Macdonald was taught the Word of Wisdom and Following the Prophet. At the end of the lesson we asked if there would be anything (other than smoking which he has nearly quit,) that would keep him from living this commandment. He told us he drank coffee... so under the direction of the spirit we simply asked him if we could take it and remove the temptation. He sat in silence for only a brief moment before stating "Okay" J He then proceeded to go and grab it all. Best thing ever! 

-We also met with our two Muslim investigators, one of which who has been meeting a little bit with the Farsi Elders as well, and they have both been reading a TON in The Book of Mormon! Hatem is learning more for an intellectual understanding and has read all of 1 Nephi in the past week, and Eghbal is learning on more of a spiritual level and is in Jacob already!! He LOVES the Book of Mormon!! He also told us that the more he reads, the lighter he feels and the more he learns. He will be flying home to the middleeast in just a few weeks and will not be able to take The Book of Mormon with him for safety reasons, so we are emphasizing developing faith in Jesus Christ so he can carry that in his heart over the next few months while he's away. 

Saturday evening was the ward chili cook off and the missionaries got to judge! Ooohhh, there were some good, spicy chili's! Our dear investigators and friends, Sandra and Sheryl came and really enjoyed themselves too! 

BUT GET THIS:

The Famous $250.00 PIE!

The craziest past of the evening was the bakery bidding. Members brought some amazing homemade desserts to have bid on as a fundraiser for the young women's camp this year. SO the bidding begins. Some pretty high prices were thrown out there! It then comes down to the last item; an apple pie made by Sister Ashe. Of course, as missionaries we were pulling our money to try and get this one, but to no avail. The price continued to rocket. Having lost all hope of getting this delectable dish, and simply enjoying the bidding war, we missionaries sat back as we watched the bids continue to climb on this miraculous pie. Final bid: sold for $250. Yep, That's right. But... The craziest part was when the Hitchens graciously placed the pie they had bought on our table for the missionaries!!! haha. We couldn't believe it! Well, long story short, we REALLY enjoyed the (expensive) pie! This ward is the funniest and nicest ward!

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity of serving here in Mississauga. I have loved it ... Because the people make me happy.  I have loved getting to know the diversity of Heavenly Father's children. Teaching ESL is probably one of the biggest highlights for me. Karolina was able to go to the temple and she is doing great!!  Brother Macdonald was a hidden gem that is now under the polishing and refining process--I know he will make it to the temple someday.  He is so close. His courage to sacrifice and put aside old habits and come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have really touched my heart.  Sandra and Sheryl are just the funniest Jamican ladies I have ever met... But since I first met them to now, the change in their life is incredible.  They have physically changed in the peace that you can see in their life, but the spiritual peace is even greater than physical evidence. When you talk with them, you know that they are special. They have been touched by the restored gospel.  Their last hurdle that they need to come over (that's hilarious) is to not wear a swim cap for Sheryl and a life jacket for Sandra when they get baptized. J Hatem and Eghbal have really helped me develop a deep love for Heavenly Father's children in ways that can't be described. Sister Phelan's triumph over her Word of Wisdom problems have been an incredible leap of faith for her and she is reading New Testament stories, and just loves the gospel now!  I just LOVE it here!! Mississauga will have a special place in my heart forever and for Heavenly Father's children here. 

I cannot wait for the adventure of opening up a new area and for my new companion as she begins her mission serving in Ontario. J 

My scripture I am ponderizing this week is Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We love Sister Ennever (momma)

I know that as we live the principles of the gospel, that we fulfill what the Savior says in this scripture.  When we have this light, we will shine our light through our deeds and have the ability of influencing so many others for good.  I love what Joseph B. Wirthlin says, "...the influence of the gospel is to extend beyond each individual. It is to be as a light that dispels the darkness from the lives of those around us."   Continue to be a light J

Until next time...

Sister Robb