Week 13

Dear Family,

I have almost no motivation to email you because I'm talking to you all in TWO DAYS!!! But I'll tell you how the work is going anyways. 

I'm still in Chilliwack! Sister Allen is stuck with me until at least February 2nd. 

I didn't mention this last week, but Sister Allen and I had almost no money and no food. When I paid my fast offering to the ward, I almost cried. But I tried to have faith, and I was happy I paid it. This week I have never seen so many open temporal blessings being poured out upon us. I wasn't really expecting any obvious blessings, I just figured somehow we wouldn't starve. Instead, on Tuesday, a couple in our ward had tried to have someone over for dinner for two nights in a row, but both times, their friends and family fell through. Apparently their daughter who's on a mission in Eastern Canada emailed them that week telling them she had $4 left for the next three weeks. The look on Brother Coleman's face reassured me that I was right in not mentioning it. They decided to give us a huge bag of groceries and toilet paper. I didn't even know if we could accept the food, but I really felt the Lord taking care of us through these generous members. And on top of that, I feel like each time we have had a dinner with a member, or even seen one of them, they have just blessed us with food. I can't explain it. I know it's not tithing, it's fast offering, but I feel like we have been so blessed with food that there has not even been room enough to receive it. I just can't believe how blessed we've been this week. It's amazing.

I can't believe I almost forgot to mention Sister Schmidt. I really can't. She is a former stripper/prostitute/married to a hell's angel/ went to prison/ got a blessing from President Kimball when she was wayyyy less active that she would bring thousands to the gospel. Yes, the last one is correct. Half of the recent converts and formers are from her personal finding efforts. She has the most amazing testimony that will make you cry and cry and miracles just happen with this woman.  When she talks, she tells us soo much (too much) about her past life, but then immediately starts bearing powerful testimony that you literally are on a spiritual roller coaster.  She is going through four surgeries to serve a mission. And each procedure brings someone new to the gospel. I don't know how to explain her or if I can. I just had to bring it up somehow...

Merry Christmas everyone!! This really is a special time of year. More people have let us into their home in the past week than the rest of my mission combined. Hearts are softening all because people are remembering their Savior!

Love you all!

Sister Thomson

Week 12

Dear Family,

I don't even know how to tell you everything that has happened this week. First of all, when I mentioned Stake Conference last week, I forgot to tell you all that Elder Call had me come up and give the first discussion at the Adult Session to like 300 people. He was testifying of the missionaries and the sacred mantle of our call and he said, "I'm going to have Sister Tutt and Sister Thomson come up and teach us in about five minutes or so what they would share for the first time to investigators." Sister Tutt is a Sister Training Leader. He had me tell the whole congregation that I had only been out for two months... This is what my mission president said in his email. :)

"Elder Call, the fabulous Area Seventy who presided over the Abbotsford Stake Conference this weekend could tell how proud we were of our missionaries.  For example, he asked after Stake Conference on Sunday, “President Tilleman, did your buttons pop off when your sisters did so well teaching the entire Saturday-evening congregation the First Discussion in 5 minutes”?  Sister Tilleman and I truthfully reported that, even though those two sisters did amazingly well, my buttons did not begin to pop off because Sister Tilleman and I were praying so hard for our sisters!!  We did, however, shed tears of joy and gratitude  after they did so well and because of feeling the Spirit as they testified to the Stake!  But, the point was, Elder Call was impressed by them and wanted us to know how well those two sisters did with that very challenging assignment (which neither they, nor I, knew was coming)!"

Needless to say, it was really scary (I thought I was going to pass out at first) but the Spirit was so strong. The Spirit really helped us and we really helped the congregation feel that no matter how long we have been here and who we are, the mantle of our calling as missionaries and the Spirit that we bring is the same. We are set apart to teach. 

Also, Sister Allen and I spent much of yesterday crying. I can't tell you how true it is that the Lord has been trying us in all things! I want to start off by saying I know that obedience is ESSENTIAL in missionary work. If we're not obedient, we have no promise. That being said, our mission president has a rule that we can't have a dinner with the members unless they have someone for us to teach ie. less active, recent convert, or non-member. A year ago, the mission was collectively finding 30 or 40 new investigators per week. Since this rule, we have been finding 400, and the numbers keep going up. Last week it was 501, the week before it was 585. That's in a week!

With that said, we went to a member's house and there was no one to teach. The friend had cancelled and the family didn't tell us. They knew the rule well, but we re-explained it and told them we had to leave but we would love to come back at 8 pm to share a message with their family. The mother chewed us out over the phone (she had gone out for a minute) for about ten minutes and no amount of apologizing or explaining would suffice. She made Sister Allen cry, (which really upset me because my companion just has the biggest heart and I don't like it when people upset her!!) , and I explained that sometimes when we're obedient, we expect things to all work out, but it doesn't always work that way!  Sometimes we face hard things for making right decisions. But when we're obedient, we have the Lord's promise. The following day was rough. We talked to so many mean people. I can't explain it. I just knew we were being tried in all things! (See D&C 131:36) And despite what happened, it worked out okay. :) We were called just before church to teach Relief Society about the Savior and the Spirit was so strong that after the lesson, the woman came up to us and said, because of this lesson, I'll forgive you and then walked out.

 

The SAME thing happened last night, and after going through a really trying day at church, I just wanted to ask, Heavenly Father, how much more do we need to be tested? But I know that I really needed that. We explained to them the rule and I told them about how in John 4 the disciples wanted to feed Jesus, but He told them, "I have meat that ye know not of." The disciples were wondering who gave him meat?? But Jesus wasn't talking about that. He then told them to look at the Samaritans in front of them and said, the field is white already to harvest! The man at this dinner happened to be an RM and understood how it's the little things that make the biggest difference on our mission, so they packed us a dinner and sent us off. After the most exhausting, trying weekend, we finally saw a miracle last night! The second house we knocked on had two men that spent an hour and a half testifying from the King James Version of the Bible about their belief in God. It was really cool. We set a return appointment with them and they are definately going to be interesting to teach.

 

Also on my mind is my testimony of the Savior. He really chose to be here. Every bruise, every time He was spit on, every pain, every hunger was a choice out of love. He could have turned back at any moment but He never did. I am starting to get a taste of choosing to go through hard things out of love. I know there are people here that need to feel their Savior's love. I know that there are people here just dying in unbelief. So every time I choose to knock on that one last house or go just a little bit farther, I am coming closer to my Savior. I choose to have 20 quality gospel conversations every day because I know that that is what my Savior would have done. This hit me so hard in Relief Society because the night before I wanted so badly to quit and to walk away and to make up a plan so we could stop talking to people. They were just so mean! But that's not what Our Savior did. He endured all things, and I think sometimes we forget that each instince of adversity in His life was a choice. But He never failed us. This means so much to me as a missionary.

 

Sorry that this letter is so long. I can't tell you how rough but rewarding this week has been. When I got on my knees last night, I have never felt so assured and loved. I just felt so strongly that I was obedient and that my day was approved of. It meant so much to me.

 

Last thing. We could be transferred this week. I'm guessing that I will be. So on Thursday night I could be in a totally different place!

 

I hope all is well, and you are all in my prayers. I love you all and know that the Savior loves you. As Sister Allen mentioned to me last week after losing her grandmother, "The birth of a Savior would mean nothing to us if we didn't go through hard things." I know this is true.

 

Love,

Sister Thomson

 

And here are some pictures she sent in another email. 

 

1) Sister Allen tried to make peanut butter from some peanuts members gave us.... she made peanut flour. :D

2) A member made us some wood signs for our mission. For free! He's the best.

 

 

 

Week 11

Dear Family,
 
This week, I'm sythesizing two letters and adding a story. The story is about a man named Sheldon who is First Nations that we met at a bus stop. He was really interested in the Book of Mormon and agreed to meet with us at the church. We found out his foster daughters are going to our congregation and he just got out of rehab. He didn't know what the Atonement was, but when we explained it, he looked like a little boy on Christmas. He just kept saying, Really?! The Atonement really can do that? The Spirit was so strong and he wants to be a better father for his daughters. He said it is so hard to only see them once a week and we're working on helping him use the Atonement to overcome his addiction.
 
We went on exchanges on Wednesday and I just wanted to work so hard. I felt like I was carrying the other missionary along, but in a good way. I think we worked harder than she would have and it was really good. At the same time, I knew she needed encouragement, so I kept complimenting her and it was just a really good experience. I also got to drive. :) Towards the end of the night, we were walking on a street they had just tracted and I asked her if anyone answered this blue house we were passing. She said no, and they became a new investigator! It's amazing to me how the Spirit is really starting to work through me when I really want to bring people to Christ. Then we went to see a mom and daughter who are coming back to church. I haven't shared this on the mission except with them, but I told them about bearing their testimonies to themselves in the mirror at night, and challenged them to do that for a week. It's not like reading the Book of Mormon or anything, but it really helped me and I thought I should. I could tell the daughter, who is in 8th grade, was struggling, so I was hoping it would help. The Abbotsford sister missionaries called me in a few days and told me that when Lexi bore her testimony the first night she started to cry and said she felt the Spirit so strong! I was so happy.
 
I also love D&C 136:31. We have to go through trials in order to be prepared for the glory that He wants to give us. My companion said on the way here that if a person didn't have trials, she wouldn't care about the birth of the Savior. It really is the hard things in life that bring us closer to Jesus Christ, because the more we suffer, the more we appreciate Him and love Him.
 
 Elder Call came to Stake Conference yesterday and talked to the Stake about our duty to be member missionaries. He told us that before this life we volunteered to share the gospel. That is why we have so many resources and privledges that so much of the world doesn't. He said if you have any question reguarding that, pray about it. We really did volunteer to share the gospel. He said the pressure we feel when people talk about member missionary work is real. He said to pray for oppurtunites and they will come and they CAN be natural. A man talked about how when we enter a store and someone says, Can I help you find anything? We can just say no. He said they changed to question to Have you been to our store before? and whether they say yes or no, you can offer to show them the sales. He said selling rates went up 34%. He said we need to change our questions! Elder Call said hiding away talents in the earth could be changed hiding away our talents in the world. Like putting them in worldly things.
 
Last year our mission had the goal of 400 baptisms. The year before that 125. We've reached both goals. This year the goal is 2014. I know the work is hastening. We're going to reach this goal too. When I got to the mission, we were finding about 350 new investigators a week. When my mission president came in, it was 30 or 40 NIs. A month ago we broke a record and had 400! This week we had almost 600!!!! The work is really hastening. 
 
This work is incredible. Last thought. We volunteered to share the gospel. All of us. That's why we have so many privileges and nice things. Elder Call told our stake if you have any doubts about that, pray about it. So I hope you're praying for opportunities!
 
Love you all!
 
Sister Thomson
 
PS. I decided to leave my volunteered for missionary work plug in there. So yes, this was meant to be in the letter twice. It's really important. :)
 
 
PPS. I forgot to get my card thing to send pictures again. Sorry!
▶ Show quoted text

Week 10

Dear Family,

Sister Allen and I actually forgot about Thanksgiving until the night was almost over, but in case anyone was wondering we ate Chinese food with the cutest woman ever. It was a miracle because we were able to share a message with her less active husband before he ran out the door, which she said he has never done before. He always hides from the missionaries. We also learned that Sister Rabiger is the oldest of 36 children. Her mother let any kids that did not have a home in. The first family they took in was a family of 8 kids that were left on the street. Soon doctors and policeman would just send kids to her mother's house whenever they didn't have a home. Sister Rabiger also told us about how her mother and father joined the church. It was such a good Thanksgiving and gave us perspective on what we have.

We also went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders this week and it went really well! I learned so much and I feel like just one day with one of the experienced sisters was enough to help me gain the confidence I need when talking to people. Our mission president has asked that we run from door to door if needed, so we did! We run every night from one door to the next unless someone can see us. It is the best for keeping discouragement away and it is so fun! The first night we did it all I could think about is how much Mady would love this. It is seriously the best. We talk to so many more people that way and we find so many more people to teach! We found 7 new investigators in 3 days!

I'm also getting a little sad because transfers are coming and I keep getting the feeling I'm leaving. :( The Sister Training Leaders told us that was the least traumatic exchange they've ever had and that they can really feel the Spirit in our companionship. It is so true! I love my companion and the ward and the area, which is why I feel like I'm heading out. But that's okay. :) Our exchanges are on the 19th, so I'll know on the 15th. I just keep hoping I've done all that I can and that I've fulfilled my mission in this area. It has really got me thinking about accountability.

We went to the temple today which is why our p-day is today. It was beautiful. I just want to bring other people there so badly. I felt almost guilty for being there without having brought anyone there myself. I can't wait to see a family go through the temple.

I know this is the church that Jesus Christ set up on the earth again. I want others to be able to experience the joy that I have felt.

Love you all!
Sister Thomson

PS. I also learned why I'm not in South America. We met a Peruvian guy in his mid-twenties and I cannot handle flirting. I can't. It stresses me out to no end. 
PPS. I tried moose yesterday. Moose stew. Moose. It was so good! This couple has bear in their freezer and promise me they would feed us some. Welcome to Canada.
PPPS. Sorry this letter is not super inspirational! We don't have much time to do everything this p-day.
PPPPS. I forgot the thing that I can upload my pictures with, so I will send them next week.