Month 8!!!!!

October3rd

Hi hi hi,

What a WOOOOONDERFUL week. It's hard to describe missionary work in any other word. 

Lets get to it.

Miracle of the week:

We had the feeling to knock on a few doors in a certain area we were in before we had dinner with a family from the ward. I had never been to the area before so it was exciting for me and Sister Morgan. The first door we knocked on didn't seem to have anyone home, so we waited a little and then we started walking away. Just then the door flung open and this man comes out and starts asking us (in French) if we have the gospel. Of course, we ruuuuun back up the driveway and introduce ourselves, and he asks us what we have to give him, I was holding an English Book of Mormon in my hands, and we had just ran out of French copies the day before, and he kept saying "Nooo nooooo Français." We started testifying of what the Book of Mormon contained and told him we could get him one in French. Then he showed us the giant religious library he had in his home and he said, "I have EVERY religious book, and I've read them all, but I don't have the Mormon book." And as I was looking at his library I noticed some books he had were in a Middle Eastern language, I asked if it was Arabic, and he said "No no no, Persian." And I was like STOP THE PRESSES. We ran out of the house and to the car and grabbed him a copy of the Book of Mormon in Persian (the language spoken in Iran, also called Farsi). Which is, thankfully, one of the dozens of languages of the Book of Mormon we keep in our trunk (except for French but just because we ran out hehe). He was so happy and surprised that we had a book in his native language and he promised that he would start reading it. We'll probably be going back to visit him this week, so pray for Kashi and his family!

Follow ups: We had our first lesson with the Mandarin family from last week. The Zhangs. They're SO CUTE. And we brought the other returned missionary, Justin, with us to translate and it went really well. They really liked the Restoration and it was simple and clear because that's all that we could do, so yup it was perfect. Keep them in your prayers too. 

Sabina: She's doing wonderful. We went over yesterday, before the morning session of General Conference, and brought with us one of our most recently baptized members, Helen. They hit it off as they talked about their families and their interests and then the Spirit rested with our happy hearts as we shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon. Jacob 4:11: "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works" (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/4). 

Then we talked about the different ways the Lord gives us counsel. He gives us the scriptures, feelings and thoughts in our hearts, people around us to help us, and He also has given us a Prophet and Apostles in these days to guide us just as in times of old. We told her about General Conference, about how every 6 months, the modern day Prophet and the Apostles give us guidance and direction and counsel from the Lord. And it was perfect because then Helen bore testimony of the Spirit that is felt during General Conference, she said that watching last April it before she was baptized, gave her the answer that she should be baptized. Ohhhhh it was so cool. We set it up on Sabina's computer before we left and then Helen invited her to church for next week and even offered to come pick her up, and Sabina said "Yes! I reeaaaaally want to come." AHHHH PEOPLE YOU CAN'T COUNTERFEIT HOW MUCH HAPPINESS WE FELT. 

Now, addressing General Conference, it was wonderful, and I encourage all of you to watch and to study the messages that were given. It was beautiful to see how one of the themes of conference was the Plan of Salvation, or God's plan of Happiness for us. Several talks were given on it, but one specifically touched my heart. It was the first talk given on Saturday morning, I invite all of you to watch it and ponder it in your hearts. Here it is: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/media/session_1_talk_3/5150993228001?lang=eng

Okay, okay, this email will be long, sorry, but I wanted to include something was I thinking about this week. Today, October 3rd, marks me being a missionary for a full 8 months. And I made a quick list of 8 things I've learned in that time. 

1. The stereotypical "eh" and "about" sounds made by Canadians are COMPLETELY ACCURATE OH MAN. That's just the way things are here. People also say "PAST-a" not pas-ta. Go figure. 

Got my first ever "F'real" I guess it was a milkshake or something. It was delicious!

2. The day in the life of a missionary almost NEVER goes as we plan it.

3. That my hair actually curls naturally (a revelation that has completely changed my hair care and daily routine).

4. That after years of failed attempts at learning French in High School, I've learned that learning French is actually possible! And do-able with the help of Heavenly Father. (Not saying I'm anywhere close to being good at it, but learning it, yes, that's possible) 

5. That so so sooooo so many people are lacking lives filled with any kind of truth. Even the most basic truths. Truths like the fact that God loves us. People don't know that! How sad that is. Remember the scripture in 1 John 4: 19 "We love him, because he first loved us."

6. How absolutely beautiful and perfect the scriptures are. After the diligent and consistent studying of both the Book of Mormon and the Bible in these past 8 months, I've truly come to a greater knowledge and appreciation of them. They are beautiful and sacred gifts that God has given us, they're a way He guides us and directs us, a way He gives us comfort and reassurance, and a way to let us know the truth. I love the scriptures. 

7. That maybe going up to a random person and beginning to talk about the deepest feelings of their heart regarding religion, isn't the hardest thing in the world. But maybe it instead is a beautiful vehicle to have actually meaningful conversation. Conversation that sparks peoples thoughts and helps them to re-evaluate the priorities in their lives. Actually, it really is wonderful.

8. That I am engaged in the most important work in the world. Nothing is more important than letting the people around us know that there is actual, tangible, proved truth. Truth that answers all questions and calms all doubts. Truth that doesn't change or waver, but truth that comes from the only perfect source in the universe, God Himself. Truth that He wants to give His children, truth that is knowable, enlightening and freeing. That truth is what I share with people.

Now we have a lot of great stuff coming up for this week, and I'll be excited to share it with you next Monday. Please pray for us, that our appointments work out (and that everyone wont cancel on us) and that the people we teach will have open hearts to receive our glad message. Thank you in advance. :) 

 

we went to the local Eco-Museum and 

THEY HAD AN EAGEL THERE 

AHHHHHH AMERICA

 

 

The District

 The view off our balcony, FALLLLLLLLL

Love love love,

Sister Thomas

P.S.

 We were backing up into a parking spot and 

LOOK WHAT WAS ON THE CAMERA 

AHHHHH WE DIED IT WAS SO SCARY. 

I WENT AND SMASHED IT!!

The Day Where I Served in China

September 26th

My grandma sent me some homemade brownies 

THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!!!!!!

HI EVERYONE,

OHHHH what a beautiful week. FALL IS HERE AND I LOVE IT. The trees are starting to change, the weather is getting a little chillier and man we are so happy. 

Highlights of this amazing week:

* After everyone and everything cancelled on us for multiple days in a row, we were finally able to see Sabina our amazing and wonderful investigator. Her car broke down and the charges to fix it were three times what she was expecting, and with three kids to take care of, she was left not knowing what to do. But as she continued talking about this trial she was having, her tone of voice moved from the depressed and sadden tone to a happier and lighter tone as she talked about how we have to face trials and difficulties with a humble heart. She said that she knew that God would help her through this, and that each obstacle we face is a learning experience. She was testifying to US of the reality of opposition in all things. It was amazing to see her perspective on such a crummy thing to be so positive. One of her common phrases is "you have to become better, not bitter." She is truly amazing.

*Then yesterday we had a MIRACLE OF MIRACLES. Half way through Sacrament meeting, a Chinese women and her two children walked in, and I turned to Sister Morgan immediately because I knew I had recognized them. Rewind to a month ago as we were visiting a less active member in the ward, we were leaving their apartment building as we ran into this family. We started talking to them and we found out they had moved here from China just a week beforehand. They didn't have a phone so I couldn't get their number, but I gave them a pamphlet in Mandarin (because I always carry them because we meet so many Chinese people) and we parted our ways. So you can imagine how shocked I was when I saw them in church! We went up to them afterwards along with another member of the ward who just got back from his mission to France. His family is from Taiwan and Mandarin is his second language so he was able to translate for us and talk to them and help them feel welcomed. Then we went into a classroom and started teaching the family a little more about the church, and what we do as missionaries. It turns out, the grandmother of the children (their father's mother) is a member of the church in China! And so the mother of the kids wanted them to be taught and baptized. We, of course, told them we would like nothing more than to help in that process. But we also explained, with the help of the Mandarin speaking member, that we would need to teach them a few things. She readily agreed and then we started teaching them about prayer. The kids had never prayed before, but after we taught them what it was, and what it meant, they all prayed at the end of our little lesson, and we committed them to pray together as a family. YAY! And now we have an appointment with them for tomorrow, and our member friend, Justin, is going to come and help us translate. YAY!

* But the Chinese fun doesn't end there! Later that evening, after church and all that excitement calmed down, we were walking around and found 3 more Chinese people and contacted them. Two of them were a couple that again JUST moved here like 3 weeks ago, and the husband, who spoke more English, said that he wanted his wife to go to a church. And when we asked where they lived, it turns out they live in the SAME apartment as the Chinese family that came to church! We got there information and they told us they wanted to come to church! Then as we continued walking we ran into two young Chinese men who were just sitting on a park bench. We starting talk to one, who's name is Richard and he was an exchange student studying here in Canada. He said he grew up reading the Bible in Mandarin but that he was getting "kind of bored with it," and that he "wanted something new" and we were just like HEY WE GOT IT. It was awesome. The people of China are ready to hear the gospel, everyone! 

Thank you for your prayers and your support, it means the world.

I hope everyone has a beautiful, amazing, fantastic week,

With all the love in the world,

Sister Thomas

 

 Temple trip with all of my favorite Sisters!

 Me and Sister Barnes got a picture together.

 Love my MTC companion! (and b&w makes it even more fun)

 Rosie, the cat I've fallen in love with. SHE'S SO SOFT OH MY GOSH.

 And when Costco has great prices on goose-down winter jackets, you buy them.

 BECAUSE CANADA IS COLD!!

"Hospitality at its Worst" - Sister Morgan

September 19th


Hello world!!

We had a lesson with our investigator, her name is Sabina, and she's so amazing. We've taught her a few times and each time she has opened up more to us. And she's been reading the Book of Mormon consistently and praying about it. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation, and when we explained about how we lived with Heavenly Father before this life, she started crying because everything we were teaching her was things she had thought about and believed to be true, but she just didn't know if they were right or if anyone else believed in them either. It was such a miracle. Through her tears she told us, "yes, this is true. This is what I've thought my whole life, and I now I know it's right." Ohhhhh the Spirit there was so strong as we testified and told her this was everything she had been looking for. 

BUT WAIT, THERES MORE. The other day we were teaching a lesson outside her apartment complex to someone else and as were heading to our car to leave, we saw her. We literally ran over to her and gave her hugs. Lo and Behold she was holding the Book of Mormon in her hand! She said that she had been reading it and that it was a "testament" to her of God's love. OH SHE'S SO PERFECT. Then we saw her again yesterday just quickly and she had finished reading chapter 8 of the Book of Mormon where it talks about the vision of the Tree of Life, and she started relating it to herself and the experiences she's had in life and Sister Morgan and I were just sitting there SO happy about how much she loves reading the Book of Mormon. 

Okay okay, and now I have to attach some of what Sister Morgan included in her email home, because it's just too perfect and her narrative is so much funnier than mine, so here's your mid-Monday treat via Sister Morgan:

"Saturday was one of the craziest days ever. We went to the funeral of Katie's dad (Katie is the girl that the Elders baptized). It was non religious. very simple. Nice. I enjoyed some Perrier in memory of Mom. 

After the funeral, we had been invited by a potential to come have dinner with her family and some friends. Her name is Tina, she's Egyptian and really nice, but quite dramatic.

We got to her house and met her son and his girlfriend. They were drinking wine, and asked us if it was okay because they knew we didn't drink. Looking back, I wonder if the alcohol consumption had anything to do with what happened next.

Tina had made So. Much. Food. In short, a feast. 

Her son piled our plates with everything and kept saying, "these women are American, they're courageous, they'll try everything!" At one point when my plate was sufficiently filled, I turned my head only to look back and see that the son had heaped a spoonful of beats onto my plate to add to the mix. It was very overwhelming. My companion and I figured we were going to die. By this point a friend had shown up with her two daughters. There was Christmas music playing in the background, of course (just thought I'd mention that for your own imagery).

The son loved us and told us to share all we knew with his girlfriend. He kept saying how we had such high IQ's and we were so wise. Then a member of our ward showed up and sat with us. As we tried to share bits about the Gospel with Gabbi (the girlfriend), Bernie (the member) interjected and started talking about Joseph Smith's life. It was super distracting from the conversation of the gospel but we tried to bring it back the best we could. 

It was getting later and we told Tina we needed to leave. At which point she brought out a pie, fruit salad and a cheesecake followed by a Costco cake accompanied with a happy birthday song. It was no ones birthday. But because we decided attribute the birthday song to Bernie (whose birthday is in December he informed us) the son lifted him up in his arms in all the excitement. Crazy. 

We finally managed to escape and Sister Thomas and I resolved that we never wanted to eat again. Needless to say, it was a good experience.

Last night we had a cool experience. We were walking around our neighborhood (which is what we usually when we don't have anything scheduled at the end of the day) and we met this guy named Michael. There is a hospital right next to our apartment and we found him at the bus stop nearby. Apparently his brother had stabbed him in the hand by accident and he had ridden the bus to the hospital to get treatment the day before. They had kept him for a while I guess and he was just then waiting for his bus ride home. He was big, black and Jamaican. We talked to him and got an appointment to go visit him on Wednesday. It was awesome! After we left him, Sister Thomas said something like, "he had his hand stabbed, rode the bus to the hospital, was kept there for a day, and was released right then so that we would have the opportunity to talk to him." I'm not quite sure how the Lord works, but the mission has taught me that there is no such things as coincidences when it comes to missionary work."

My friends, Sister Morgan's account is true. Missionary life is crazy. BUT IT IS SOOO MUCH FUN!

Alright everyone, I believe this email is long enough, and will suffice until we meet again next week. 

Love,

Sister Thomas

 

P.S. This week we did a service project where we went around and collected a bunch of food for the local Food Drive they were having. So a bunch of missionaries were running around knocking on doors, but instead of offering salvation they were just asking for non-perishable foods. It was super fun.

 

 

Week 32

September 12th

Okay I have noooooo time today but I will try and share some awesome things that happened this week!

*We went on exchanges with the Sisters in Montreal and guess who I was with... SISTER BARNES MY MTC COMPANION! She became the new Sister Training Leader last month and so we got to be companions once again and it was sooooo fun. She was brand new to the city, and I had only been there a few times so we just walked around and tried not to get too lost using the bus and metro system. But it was so fun to teach and to testify with her again. We have both grown so much since the MTC and it was awesome to share experiences and tips. We met this young man at the bus stop and he was from Rwanda, and had moved to Canada alone just 3 weeks prier and spoke very very limited English. But we told him about the gospel and about how the church could be his family here. We told him that we were his friends and that we had a message to share. He was so grateful and thankful he almost started crying (and so did we). We talked him to the church (it was like a 10 minute walk) and showed him how to get there via the metro system. It was a super cool contact. 

*We taught a lesson in half Spanish and French last night to one of our new investigators. Sister Morgan did AMAZING in Spanish and it was so perfect. We have 2 more Spanish lessons coming up this week, so I better start practicing. 

*We read scriptures with one of our less active members who we haven't gotten to see in FOREVER, and it was so beautiful. We read in Mosiah 27 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/27?lang=eng) about Alma's conversion story and we laughed and cried as we read the scriptures and applied them to our own lives. I love the Book of Mormon. It is so true and so pure. And I'm so happy I get to be here sharing it with people. The scriptures are a gift God has given us, and we get to read them and ponder them whenever we like. AH they are such a blessing. 

Being a missionary is wonderful. It is hard, but as I've tried to have a better attitude and a renewed desire to help people this week, miracles have definitely come. I'm so happy to be here. 

Have a great week everyone!

Sister Thomas

(I forgot my camera this week so no pictures, I know I'm sorry I'm the worst)

Labor day? More like Labor HOOORRAAAAY

September 6th

Hi everyone!

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day! (which yes, is the reason I didn't get to email yesterday, because Holidays are noooooot Holidays for missionaries!) It actually was the perfect day to contact people, especially families. Our ward had a Pancake Picnic in the park in the morning for breakfast, and it was a great turn out! We had a few people we invited come and they got to meet the other members and chat with them, so we were super happy. Sister Morgan and I did face-painting for the kids, and it attracted a lot of attention from other people who were just visiting the park, so we were extra happy. And by the time the picnic was over we were exhausted. I've never face-painted so much in my life. But now I can say with confidence that I can indeed make a child's face look like a wolf and/or kitty. 

 

 Caught in face painting action.

Me and Amina, who's mom came up to us and asked how much the face painting was. 

Never before have I been so excited to say FREEEEEEEE. 

She was from Yugoslavia and was really nice, 

but not interested in our message, BUT that's okay.

Me as Tony the Tiger. 

Courtesy of Sister Morgan and her face painting skills that were practiced on me.

I had to add this one because it was taken by a 4 year old (the little girls sister) 

who's family came to the picnic and had a great time meeting the other members! SUCCESS.

And right after we emailed last week, we went to a park to walk around and we ran into this family from Guatemala (and every time we meet a Spanish speaker I just throw Sister Morgan at them because she speaks Spanish) and we talked to them about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration, they were practicing Evangelicals but they were really interested. We parted ways after exchanging information (turns out they live super far away from us, and the people we thought were the parents were actually just family-friends, oops awkward) and kept walking around. Fast-forward like an hour later we stumbled across them again, and they said they were just talking about us. They were fascinated about why/how we were serving missions instead of going off and partying like other kids our age. We started explaining and it was great experience. And before we left all the kids gathered around us and they wanted to take a picture. And how can you say no to a bunch of little kids who were holding and trying to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish we gave them? Answer: You can't. 

The cute kids we contacted. 

Yes, they're holding the Book of Mormon open to the picture of Jesus, cutest ever.

And to continue with the Spanish theme, we meet this SUPER cute girl from Colombia last night, and it turns out her cousin actually served a mission and got married in the temple! And Jessica has only been in Canada for a few years, but she said that she'd gone to church before and that she'd be interested in learning more! Of course the whole conversation was in Spanish but I actually was able to understand a lot of it. Yay, so maybe I'll pick up some Spanish with Sister Morgan too. Anyways, Jessica has the cutest 7 month old baby ever, and right as we were leaving we got to meet her husband. Sooooo you bet your life we are going to be teaching this cute family. Wish us luck.

 

 Our Saturday Morning Breakfast Buddy, Sister Malo <3 (my favorite)

 

In honor of my 7 month mark, a member let me where her super cool wolf jacket 

and take a picture with all the squash from her garden. Oh she's my favorite!

 

That's it for this week, I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember how much God loves His children,

Sister Thomas

 

I'll [stay] where you want me to [stay]

August 29th

HI WORLD

This week Sister Morgan and I finished our first six weeks together and her first six weeks as a missionary. And man it was a busy week. We taught more lessons than we have in a while and found a handful of new investigators that we are super excited about!

And all of our new investigators were found by miracles. One, named Serif, was a surprise as we went over to teach a lesson to his mom, who had been taught a little bit before by other missionaries, but now wanted us to teach her son. He opened the conversation by asking us why we are here. HA. Easiest/best/my favorite question ever. I immediately flipped open the Book of Mormon to Alma 34 verse 32 that reads, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." After asking him what he thought the verse meant, he pondered his question again and said that the scripture made a lot of sense. And then we started talking more about our Heavenly Father's plan for us, about how we were with Him before and are working in this life to get back to Him. He then asked why we had to leave God's presence in the first place, and Sister Morgan and I got to explain to him that it was because we had to come to earth and receive a body and have experience. It was so cool to explain that when we were with God as spirits before this life, we couldn't have progressed anymore without receiving a body. And when we finished talking, he left the lesson very satisfied, with a Book of Mormon in his hands, and with a commitment to read it and ponder it's message. 

 We also found another investigator named Jean Claude, he's an older Haitian man who had a stroke 7 years ago. He only speaks French and his stroke has left him with physical challenges and it's really difficult to understand him, so we just read pamphlets to him in French and talk to him about what they mean. We know we can keep going when he says "Oui, je crois ça" which translates to "yes, I believe/think that." We have a lesson with him and his family (a wife and three daughters) tomorrow and the other Sister Missionaries for the French area are going to take over. We are super excited.

And finally, I titled my email "I'll [stay] where you want me to [stay]" because I've been thinking a lot about the Hymn "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" (https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/ill-go-where-you-want-me-to-go?lang=eng). Heavenly Father has asked me stay in this area for awhile. I've been in Kirkland since I got to Canada in March, and the next transfer ends in October. That's a good chunk of time but I know I'm supposed to be here, in this area, for a reason. I've learned a lot and it's obviously that Heavenly Father wants me to learn more. So sometimes in life it's not all about the going going going, but instead Heavenly Father wants us to stay, and to continue, to grow for where He has already placed us. And we shall see what this next six weeks brings to The Kirkland Adventures of Sister Morgan and Sister Thomas (copyright pending). 

Have a great week everyone! Remember that someone in Canada loves you!

Sister Thomas

 

 Our dear friend Katie got baptized on Saturday!

 Her mom, Helen (I wrote about her in May) was baptized a few months ago

 and since then Katie has been receiving the discussions and 

she decided she wanted to be baptized before she went back to college for the fall. 

She is so stellar and we love her so much. So excited to see what life has in store for her.

Week 29

August 22 2016

Woooow hellooo!

It's been a fun week here in Kirkland and I'll just catch everyone up with the highlights. 

We had some awesome dinner's with the members here and shared a spiritual thought about the Book of Mormon. We have a goal as a mission to teach more from the Book of Mormon and to teach the doctrine it contains very simply to the people we visit, members and non-members alike. We watched this video together (I know I've attached it before, but it's just too good to not share again) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-11-018-a-book-of-mormon-story?lang=eng&country=ca and talked about how the Book of Mormon can really provide answers to the questions we have and help us learn more about Jesus Christ. And it was so fun to promise them blessings that I've seen come as I've read it in the past, and especially since I've been a missionary. Reading the Book of Mormon everyday does make a huge difference in our lives. A young man even gave a talk about it in church yesterday! He said that he made a goal to read it every day for 30 days and he said that as he did that, he came to see the scriptures with new eyes, that the stories became new and more meaningful to him as he actually read with the intent to know if the book was true. And that's a thing we promise every person we meet, we promise them that they can come to a knowledge for themselves about the truthfulness and divinity of the Book of Mormon. And that's so cool! Because it's true. And it's because Heavenly Father wants to answer our prayers. Because He loves us SO MUCH.

We also had some lessons with our investigators, and they're doing so good! We taught Salman a little about the Plan of Salvation, and we focused on the question "Where did we come from?" and it was wonderful to see him make connections with the things we taught him. He basically had all the right ideas, we just filled in the little wholes and made his puzzle complete.

I found a scripture that really resonated with me this past week, it's found in the Book of Mormon and it's a prophet, Alma, who's talking about his own missionary experience; and I found how much in common I had with him. The verse says "And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me" (Alma 29:10 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/29.1?lang=eng). I have felt that same joy Alma talks about. As I've seen people come unto Christ, I've been able to reflect and see in detail all that He has done for me! And it is soooo much. His arms of mercy really are extended out towards all us, and I have felt them in the moments I've needed them. God and Christ are aware of us, They know us and love us so much. That is something I know is true. 

I hope you all have fantastic week, and remember how much the Lord and I love you! 

Sister Thomas