Week 29

Dear Family,

Happy Easter Monday!!!! I'm not just saying that; today is a legitimate holiday in Canada because one isn't good enough. :)

I'm getting transferred in 1.5 weeks. I've never been to a new area and if I go to a YSA ward I will probably die. Just saying.

We saw so many miracles this week. It's ridiculous. Between rabid dogs and left-hand turns and shady men, I'm just really happy I'm a missionary or I would probably not be in one piece. :)

Anyways. So one of our investigators is already in 2 Nephi. And we met her a week ago. WHAT. Her name is Juli, and our lesson didn't work out on Wednesday because she was feeling sick, but we gave her a call on Thursday and she told us that she's put sticky notes and questions everywhere and likes what she's reading. So we're going to see her tomorrow evening. :)

Tina got hit by a bicyclist on Saturday and spent a good portion of her day in the ER. So she couldn't come to church on Sunday. :( Tina is 86, so getting hit by a biker is no bueno. But this woman is incredible. She has taken her landlord to court three times in the past five ish years and won each time. (Verified by one of the neighbors who referred us to Tina). Does Canada have a Supreme Court? She said she took it to a Supreme Court and won. So she is still really there and can still decide for herself. She also is reading the Book of Mormon, and when we invited her to be baptized, she said, don't you think it's a little early? :) She wanted to study more before she decided, but she is definitely the first 86-year-old woman that I have met that is still willing to make a change. I love her. But man, is she facing challenges! She is afraid she might be starting to get Alzheimer's which would be so sad. :( And she got hit by a bike.

I really want to share my testimony of my Savior because I didn't get too much of a chance yesterday.

I know He lives. I've been memorizing the Living Christ, which is helping me so much to know Him better and more able to testify of my belief in Him. About every 30 minutes when we're out proselyting, someone will tell me I don't know Jesus Christ or believe in a different one than they do. Sometimes every door or every other door, depending on the street. But it's only helping me feel more sure and more confident of the reality of my Savior. I believe in the Jesus Christ that was born of Mary, that walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. I know he was "the firstfruits of them slept." I know that because of Him, I have truly been set free and am able to even be on a mission. I know that it has been such a blessing to serve in Chilliwack, because so many are so hostile. And yet I have never been confounded. It's taught me a lot about how key humility and charity are to everything we do. I feel like the fierce opposition has been exactly what I have needed, and my testimony has never been so strong. I have watched as I testify and people's hearts soften. And I know this doesn't seem like part of a testimony of Jesus Christ, but it is. Like Elder Holland said, we all have to go through our own mini-Gethsemane if we really want to be His disciples, and know Him better..

I know His mercy is perfect. No one has gone too far, and His Atonement is for everyone. I wish I was better at sharing this testimony, but I know my Savior. I know He lives. And I know that He wants us to be obedient.

Love you all and hope you weeks are all going well!

Sister Thomson

PS. I keep meaning to take a picture, but I have two driver's licenses. How great is that? :) Blame it on Canada post and how everything takes 3 years to send.
PPS. Sister Reed gave me an Easter Bunny yesterday and made me a bunch of sticky notes with clues on them to find it. :) She assembled all of it while I was in the bathroom. I love her.