January 19th

An hour has gone by and I have emailed one person. And I wonder why I can never keep up with all my recent converts. :)

This week I felt the biggest extremes I have ever felt on my mission. On Thursday, Neca told us it was too hard, the changes were too much, etc. So many text messages all at once and I have never felt lower. I cried so much and felt worse than if someone had died. I didn't even know how to cope. I've never felt like that before. It was the hardest few hour. We searched around trying to find her true friends, but no one was answering their phone. I've never felt so alone. I pleaded so much with Heavenly Father and finally after driving around and calling people like mad, we got ahold of someone with a ham radio and were able to get a hold of everyone else. (Forget cell phones up here. It's all about ham.) We texted Neca and went up to see her. Satan had been working on her so much. Brother Stanley gave her a blessing and by the end of the night it was a complete turn around.

Saturday was the most wonderful day. I've never felt that much joy either. Jimmy received the Priesthood right after they were confirmed in Sacrament meeting and it was the most special feeling I've ever felt. Jimmy is already sharing the gospel with his boss (Ammon style) and they both looked so happy. A bunch of Jimmy's family members came. I am trying to make this paragraph longer than the last one, but there are no words. It was just the most special day. An ordinance that seems so simple when you get right down to it has so much power. So much.

I think that's all for this week. I know the Atonement is real and that each of us need it so much. I don't think we understand how much we truly rely on and access it's power. Yesterday I watched a compilation of Bible videos and felt that I am never truly alone. Even when I think I am; even when I feel so alone, He is right there with me. Sometimes I want to take my burdens by myself because I don't want to make Him take on anymore and because I think I can handle it. But I can't. And He already suffered for them. All I have to do is lay them at His feet, and I know that He has the power to lift me up. We are never truly alone and He is always there for us. He wants to help us through each of the storms we go through in life and as we allow Him to and ask for and rely on His strength, this life is possible. As we do those simple things (praying daily, scripture study daily, going to church, serving others, etc.) we can experience true joy, not matter what life chooses to throw at us. I love you all. There is power in keeping our covenants with God (including our promises to do those very simple things mentioned above, which we promised at baptism to do and recommit every week to do as we take the sacrament.) God wants us to be happy. Even when it is really, really hard. And He will help us as we choose to obey the road map He's given us to eternal joy.

Love you all,
Sister Thomson
In case you didn't already get these two :)
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January 12th

Dear Family,

What a glorious week. We saw so many miracles. On Saturday we went out to a place called Tache Reserve. It's about an hour and a half away from Vanderhoof, so I don't think missionaries have ever been there. We were there about a week and a half ago and we gave a couple of people Books of Mormon. One of them is named David. His sister-in-law is Neca's aunt. David was on 2 Nephi 32 when we followed up with him! He told his priest that he had received a Book of Mormon from us and his priest told him not to meet with us--that there is only one church, one God, and one Bible. David told him, well they read the Bible, they believe in God, and they gave me this book and I really like it! I will meet with them. :) David is so prepared. He quit drinking a long time ago and the Spirit is so incredibly strong when we teach him. He is so humble too. When we taught the Restoration on Saturday, he was amazed at James 1:5. He stared at it for a minute and said, "No one has ever taught me this before! I've always been taught that I have to pray to Mary or do my rosaries. No one has told me that I can pray to God." What a miracle. When I go see him, I can feel how happy God is that David is finally hearing the gospel. I know that God loves David so much: more than I can understand.

We chopped wood with Neca and Jimmy and our ward mission leader and his wife (the Arnolds) for Jimmy and Neca's relatives. It was so good. We shared a short lesson with them afterwards and I think their hearts will soften. I know they felt something. We also met Jimmy's mom and aunt. It is so amazing to see the Arnolds showing them how to share the gospel with their friends and neighbors. They are already doing missionary work, and Jimmy even invited his mom to learn from us. Their interview for baptism was on Saturday night, done by President Kochel (one of President Burt's counselors). They are so prepared and they have changed so much. When I thought about it on Saturday morning, I cried. They are literally different people because they have chosen to accept and apply the gospel. They are redeemed. And I am so happy for them.

I started to think about the economy for a few moments this week. I know I need to repent. :) But it worried me a lot, until I realized that if I knew what I would go through on my mission, I would have been terrified. But it really hasn't been that bad. The adversities that I have gone through have been made light, and I have been okay. And I know that is why God teaches us to look to the future with faith. Because He is going to help us through every difficult thing we go through and with His help, we can overcome anything because Jesus Christ overcame the world. I know He is real. He has a physical body and He is really there. We can communicate with Him and He will communicate back. He cares about our welfare and He loves us more than we can know or comprehend. Because He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us, we can return to His presence and have joy with Him forever. I know this is true. I know that as I have read and studied the scriptures every day, I have never been led astray. I know when I hear truth and I know when I hear false information or false truths because I know what the real thing feels like and looks like. I know that as each of us study the scriptures we will never be deceived and we will never have to be under the influence of the one who wants us to be miserable. I love you all and know that we have the power to do so much good each and every day. I pray for you and pray that my blessings will be consecrated to you.

Love,
Sister Thomson

PS. I forgot to mention a big detail. :) My new companion is Sister Han! She is the cutest Sister I have ever met. She's from Taiwan and has been learning English on her mission. I already love her so much. Even the people that want to bash us are so much nicer because of her. :) I'm excited to be her companion and know we will be seeing miracles together.
PPS. Sister Manaso went to Chilliwack 2nd ward (which I covered for 1 transfer. :))

January 5th

Dear Family,

Where to even begin?

Probably with the weather. There was an entire day of freezing rain on New Years so the road were horrible. Everything was covered in about an inch of smooth ice at least. I can testify that I am protected as a missionary because it was like walking and driving on an ice rink all day long and I did not fall once, nor did my companions. I really know that there are angels watching over us. I've never felt it so much in my life. There are so many times on my mission that I just wish you could see where I am or what I'm doing. We are so protected.

Another thing I've learned this week is that the Restoration is so true! I can never ever deny it because there has not been a single time on my mission where I or my companion have shared the First Vision and the Spirit has not come down in abundance. I can't describe it really or express to you enough that I know Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ and they did restore the church through him.

There are so many miracles I don't know which to share or how to include all of them, but know that opposition brings sacrifice and sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.

Brother Arnold and Brother Stanley took Jimmy moose hunting. We were teaching Neca when they got home from being in the bush all day. They got a moose! And that time with Jimmy and our ward mission leader and member of the bishopric was so good for them. I have never taught/met a more prepared couple than Neca and Jimmy. I feel so incredidbly grateful that I can teach them and incredibly humbled. I don't know why I've been so blessed to be here or be a part of this, but when I think about it, it brings me to tears. Their baptism will be the most special day.

Yesterday when asked in Relief Society to define a testimony, Neca said "A knowledge that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints is true, that the plan of salvation is real, and that Jesus Christ is real..." It was longer, but we were all floored. (Hahaha I wrote "a firm conviction of spiritual truth." Neca just blows me out of the water. :))

I just want to tell you everything!!!! The church is so true. Miracles have not ceased and angels continue to minister to men and women. I love you all and I love this work of the Lord. I know the Atonement is real. All I could do this week was pray for you and so that's what I did. I prayed and I fasted and I felt the Atonement carry me as I lost myself in the service of God. I love you all so much and pray for you by name. Know that God is so aware of you and He loves you more deeply than we can possibly understand.

Sister Thomson

PS. My favorite phrases this week: "I seen a bear" "She don't know..." "I seen a moose" I love it so much. I would love it even more if I wasn't catching on. :)

December 22nd

Dear Family,

What a week! So stressful and so great all at the same time. I feel like choosing to be happy is the key to everything. It really is a choice we have to make all of the time! We had some incredible days and some hard days and happiness is the key to persevering.

We had some awesome lessons with Jimmy and Neca this week, but then they didn't respond to us on Saturday too much and weren't at church on Sunday. My heart was breaking for them! So I fasted for them and we dropped by. I was so nervous walking up to their door. Neca was pretty cold when we walked in. She had alcohol on Saturday night with her family and her mom told Neca that she should talk to the Catholic priest in town and that Neca's aunt was severely beaten by her grandpa when she tried to join this church. Neca and Jimmy said they were willing to try in the New Year to quit alcohol but it was too hard now. Sister Manaso and I, along with the member with us, were so unsure what to say, but the Spirit took over and the entire room changed. Jimmy showed us a suit he bought for church in Prince and they said they really know this is true and want to join, but it is so hard. Neca said, I don't want to just come, I want to be baptized and be a member!" We told them to pray about their decision (we didn't condone it, they knew how we felt, but we told them to take it to Heavenly Father) and left them with a talk by Elder Ballard about addiction and also the arp.lds.org website. Just before we started emailing you today, Neca texted us and told us, Jimmy and I have decided not to wait. We're going to start today to quit alcohol. Sister Manaso and I screamed-- we were so happy! Jimmy said the closing prayer last night and it was incredible. They have so much faith and I love them so much. A member of the bishopric (without us even having to talk to him or anything!) offered to bless their home, and he's having them over on Christmas Eve. The ward is so supportive. I wish I could tell you all they've done.

I love Heavenly Father so much. I am so blessed to be here with Sister Manaso. She has such an incredible testimony and I know she was sent here to share it with the people here. Last week a member asked her how on earth she could know the sealing power is real if she's never been sealed to anyone. She said, "I've never seen God or Jesus Christ, but I know that they're real. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet even though I never heard him either. The Spirit has confimed to my heart that the sealing power that was restored is real and one day I will have the chance to be sealed to an eternal companion and my family." She said more, but the member had no idea how to respond after that. "Oh, okay." Haha. She is so incredible.

Something I know is true is that “Now, this is the truth. We humble people, we who feel ourselves sometimes so worthless, so good-for-nothing, we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are children of God and that He has actually given His angels … charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.” (George Q. Cannon)

I know that is true. Each person I talk to, each person I share the gospel with is a way the I become part of the means by which God has devised to save His children. He has a personalized plan for each of us, and for each of His children, to make it back to Him. Each time we open our mouth and share the gift, we are part of that plan that God devised to save His children. He loves us so much and He wants His children to know that and to return to Him and experience the joy the gospel brings. Let us open our mouths and spare not this season. I love you all so much and know that this message is true. For those of you who haven't seen this video yet, go watch it!

Love you all,
Sister Thomson

http://www.mormon.org/christmas  

and this one too http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=2919740155001

December 15th

Dear Family,

It's been a really good week. I'm learning I really can be happy in any circumstance. Yesterday I spent most of the day throwing up, but I still feel like it was a good day, and I'll tell you why in a minute. Poor Sister Arnesen had to spend her last Sunday by herself at church for six hours because we cover two wards. Ha God is funny.

I haven't told you all about Neca and Jimmy yet, but today is their 13th day without weed and 8th day without alcohol! They are preparing to be baptized on January 3rd and I've never seen anyone sacrifice so much in such a little amount of time for the "pearl of great price." I feel like they are so incredibly prepared, even with all of the addictions they've been trying to overcome. President and Sister Burt came with us to one of their lessons (!!!!) and the Spirit was so strong. This is what Neca texted us two days after, "Since I have had God and the sisters, I know what I want: our family to be happier. I wanted to tell you because I think you girls may help us know where to look with God to overcome this. Thanks for listening [....] Jimmy said tonight that he really wants to change and go to church and to stop drinking for good. [....] Change is happening!" There was more, but she and Jimmy are coming so far. They are married--Jimmy is 37 and I think Neca is in her early 30s. They have two toddlers, and Jimmy has a daughter named Dolphina that we're also teaching. I love all of them. The ward is so supportive too. We took the bishop and his wife to one of their lessons and they had dinner at the bishop's house last night. They also got to see the baptism of two 8-year-olds.

"And again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls; Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). I've been thinking about how Neca and Jimmy have been giving up everything from their old life (we have their coffee pot and this week they found out that iced tea is also part of the Word of Wisdom and they gave us all their beer--funny story about that in a minute.). They are selling everything they have for this pearl of great price, and recently I've been wondering, what do I still need to sell? What am I still holding on to? I think a big part of it before was my attitude. But now I realize that every day can be a good day! Even when I can't sit up without throwing up. I'm still honestly grateful for that, and I'll get to why in a minute. :)

President Burt came to Vanderhoof!!! We got to ride in the car with him and Sister Burt for a little over an hour and it was really exciting. The day before we committed Omineca to be baptized on Christmas, and she let us take all the alcohol out of her house. We had to run to Prince George right after the lesson, so we just threw the alcohol in our apartment. Sister Arnesen jokingly said, "Wouldn't it be funny if President Burt came and inspected our apartment and saw all this beer?" She joked too soon. We had no idea he was coming until a few hours before and he totally did inspect our cabin. Hahaha.

Kamalani has decided to serve a mission! And while Sister Arnesen and Sister Manaso went to say goodbye to people, Kamalani and I watched the District 2 and she asked me a bunch of questions about serving a mission. I talked to her and another YSA girl about my mission and the moment I finished, my need to throw up totally left. I still felt really gross, but way better. Kamalani and I even role played knocking on someone's door. :) I feel like that was totally one of the reasons I got so sick. And it was worth it. This morning I was thinking about Joseph of Egypt and how he still got punished for breaking the law of chastity even though he was faithful and didn't! He could have chosen to be mad at God, but like Nephi, "his grateful heart never faltered." He still had faith and trusted in God, and because of that, he was able to deliver his family and all of Egypt and shared the gospel with a lot of people!! He was an instrument in God's hands because he chose to have faith and be grateful despite his circumstances.

I love you all. I received a blessing from President Burt because I was worried about the Golds, and I feel a lot better. I know God has His own purposes for what He does, and He is always right. He really does want us to be so happy and even though He allows us to go through really hard things, His goal is for us to make it back to Him, prepared to live with Him again. Again, I love you all and I know that God loves you all too.

Cheerfully,
Sister Thomson

PS. Sister Arnesen is getting on the plane to go back to Richmond today! It's crazy!! My trainer is going home too!
Pictures to come.....
Also, Pierre (my recent convert in Chilliwack) said the opening prayer at a stake conference with Elder Bednar. This makes me so happy! :) He's still super active and a ward missionary. I think all of my recent converts (except maybe Sierra...) are still active. :) I am so happy for him.
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December 8th

Dear Family,

This week was incredible. I'm still in paradise I feel like. As I was watching the Christmas Devotional last night, I felt the Spirit so strong--especially with the music. The choir is so incredibly powerful live, and sometimes I forget that. I know that Heavenly Father sent us His Son so we can be families together forever with Him. He saved me. And He does every day. I am working on sharing a more powerful testimony, but it's still in the process, so I just want to share what I can of how I feel about the Savior. I know He love each of us so much. I love what Elder Faust said, "How many drops of blood did He shed for me?" I feel like there were sometimes not happy endings to the stories they were sharing yesterday. And sometimes I remember how excited I was when I came out to see miracles and blessings unfold for my family. But I realize now that those blessings won't be unfolded until the next life. Every moment that we have to spend in our own personal Gethsemanes Heavenly Father uses for our good. His goal is for us to have joy with Him forever and be with our families.

God uses simple things to bring about His great and eternal purposes (Alma 37). He sent a baby and then waited. I loved that quote yesterday.

On a different note I had a lot of unusual things happen this week. We ran beside our float for an hour in a parade. I guess up here in the North they do things a little differently. We were supposed to hand out candy to the kids, but we just had to throw it at them while half jogging/half running to catch up. It was so much fun. I was laughing pretty much the whole time. Also two different people handed us anti. One came disguised as a Christmas card. Speaking of which, I was able to see a little how I have grown. A woman started reading a pamphlet to us when I was on an exchange with my STL. She's never really served around anti, but I felt so relaxed as I simply told the woman we are here to find people who are ready to be baptized, and I have set aside my family and friends and university and dating to do so. I want to bring people to the Savior. I told her that if she's not ready, then we'd like to use our time finding those who are and if she knew anyone who was we would be happy to go see them. I felt so good. As she continued to talk, we chose to simply walk away. I feel like I've grown so much!

Also we've been saying what we're grateful for every time a logging truck passes us. There is one road where it's CONSTANT. If you want to feel the Spirit, start saying what you're grateful for!! It has been the best.

Also our CO monitor went off in the middle of the night. Sister Manaso now wants to marry a fireman hahaha. She had never seen one before. It was perfect though, because we couldn't study in our house, so we went to our RS president's house (she owns the cabin and lives across the lawn) and studied with her niece Kamalani. We invited her to join us and it was the best personal study and companion study ever. We shared our testimonies of serving a mission. :)

Also we're teaching an 11-year-old named Connor. His mom is our Ward Mission Leader's cousin. Last night his whole family was over at our WML's house and Connor showed us all of the deer that he's shot on his mom's phone. He shot his first deer when he was 9. NINE. When he was ten he shot a black bear. And last week he shot a buck. His dad was so proud. Bahaha Connor told us he's giving up hockey this season to "focus on his hunting." (Only in Canada) He wants to be baptized though and his mom is really excited about him learning about the gospel.

So I'm pretty sure that's it. Love you all and have the best week ever!

Sister Thomson

Our cabin

December 1st

Dear Family,

I have been transferred to heaven. It was -30 Celsius yesterday. And I love it so so so much. We live in a log cabin on our RS president's property and are the only sisters who get to drive a truck. We have milk from a cow. Which I can't drink, but it's still pretty legit. :) I'm in VANDERHOOF. I feel like I already know the members. And one couple here is from Pocatello and knows Emily and Matt because they were in the SAME ward. This is a town of 5,000 people. Coincidence? I think not. I've never come to an area that I've felt so much immediate love for. Even Duncan. It's kind of confusing as to why I love this place so much but I know that it is inspired.

My companions are so great. Yes, I'm in a tri!!!! :) And it is the best. I seriously love it. I felt bad for sisters in tris but no way. Sister Manaso is from Thailand and joined the church 4 years ago this week when she went on a student exchange in Utah. She lived in Utah with the same family from 16 to 18 and went back to Thailand in the summers. She went to BYUI but transferred to BYU-Provo and will be going home with me. :) (April 1st. I don't know if I've told anyone that yet.....) Sister Arnesen graduated from BYU in Execise Science and is going home on Dec 17 (half-way through the transfer). She reminds me a lot of Mandy from work. We are really similar. But suprisingly, so are Sister Manaso and I. Pretty much I am in the promised land with awesome companions. I prayed recently and told Heavenly Father that I was willing to have a hard, struggling companion but He's just blessed me with awesome companions my whole mission. I hope it means my permanent companion will be awesome. :)

My favorite scripture right now is Alma 32:6. It says "he (Alma) beheld with great joy." He say how incredible of an experience and oppurtunity God was allowing to give him and he not only looked on the bright side, but he beheld with great joy! He was so incredibly happy. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and look on the bright side. "Be of good cheer." He has given us so much. So even though I could get frostbite simply from standing outside for too long and am writing you this in a room with a broken heater, I am so happy! I love this place! I don't want to be anywhere else. I will not put myself down anymore. I refuse. And I am filled with so much joy because of it.

I love you all so much. I left my camera, but next week I will send you a picture ice on the INSIDE of our windows. :)

Love you!!!!!!!!!!
SIster THomson

PS. Best quote "It's colder than a mother-in-law's kiss out there."