Hello everyone!
This week was so great! Lots of amazing miracles happened, and I learned so much!
To start things off, we have a new investigator, T! She is from Manitoba (a province here in Canada I didn't know existed until 3 months ago...) she is wonderful! She's currently living with a less active family, and that's how she was introduced to the Church! Remember that family I told you about weeks ago that has the scariest dog on the face of this planet, that's them! Haha they are a lot nicer than their dog! Our first lesson with her was amazing! A lot of the members of the household are sick due to mold. So they requested priesthood blessings, and T was able to see that as well as receive one! It gave her a lot of peace of comfort. She's currently in a custody battle with her ex-husband for 3 of her 4 kids. They are in an awful environment with their father, so she is doing everything she can to get them back. She loves how much the gospel can bless families, and she has accepted the invitation to be baptized on March 26! We're hoping she can get her kids back soon so they can all be baptized on the same day. She's already stopped drinking coffee, and she is working on quitting smoking. She has been so prepared by the Lord, and she's already building friendships with members of the ward!
On Friday, we went to the Ponoka long-term care facility! It was their Valentine's Day party, and it was a blast! As soon as we got there, I walk over to the ladies, and there's a lady with them that I don't recognize. She starts swearing like crazy! One of the ladies tells me, "she hasn't had a cigarette since last night. They only let her go out 2 times a day." the ladies start talking to her about how bad it is for you, and she shouldn't do that anymore. She responded with, "I'm 90 years old! I should be able to have a smoke whenever I want to!" There were a few explicit phrases in that sentence..... Hahaha all of us just busted up laughing!! Once we got the ice cream cake out and the piano man started playing, she calmed right down. Goodness I love elderly people! After the piano guy left, we still had a few minutes with them. So I decided to teach them a card game! And it may or may not have been Blackjack.... they loved it! Of course, there was no bet on the line, but it was so hysterical! They would say, "hit me!" And then if it was too high they would say, "oh not that hard!" We were all almost crying we were laughing so hard! I just adore these little ladies! I definitely have a soft spot for elderly people!
Saturday was beautiful! It was 41 degrees outside! We had been asked to shovel a less active's driveway while they were out of town, so we were outside in our jeans and tshirts! It was amazing to finally get some Vitamin D! Naturally as missionaries, we started thinking of metaphors for shoveling and missionary work. By the end, we were laughing so hard! We had come up with the craziest things! We also started singing the "Frozen Heart" song from Frozen. In Canada, you don't just shovel snow, you also have to use a giant ice pick to get the frozen stuff underneath! My fore arms are still sore! But it was a blast to be outside and to serve!
This week we were able to visit a part member family we hadn't seen in a while. He's been less active since high school, the wife isn't a member, and they have two adorable daughters, 9 & 11. As far as spirituality goes, it's not a priority for them, and I'm not sure that the message that we shared helped with that, but as we left that house, I had a very clear picture in my mind of being in the sealing room with that family, all dressed in white, kneeling at the alter! It almost brought me to my knees! It was such a clear picture, and I know that this is going to happen one day! They will be an eternal family! What a great reminder that was to me of the importance of not giving up on anyone. We don't know what their timeline is like or what the Lord has in store for them, but he always has a plan. And it is our job to figure out our role in that plan! I'm so grateful that the Lord let me see that event, it really helped refocus me on why I am here!
I'll finish off with our favorite Anglican woman, D! She really is so wonderful! We saw her on Sunday, and as soon as we arrived, she told us she is giving the sermon next week in her church, and she wants our help! so we are meeting with her on Thursday to offer suggestions for her sermon! She said she's even going to say from the pulpit that the LDS sister missionaries contributed to this sermon! she is the greatest! And I really hope they don't run her out of town for it! We can see her faith building, and I'm so grateful to play a role in her journey to the restored gospel!
If there is one thing I learned this week, it is the truth that gospel blesses families! The Savior established his church in a way that would not only help us as individuals, but as families! We are all God's children, and he loves us so much! We need to help all of our brothers and sisters, especially those who don't have this knowledge! My new favorite quote is my C.S. Lewis. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship... It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is in the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours." Imagine if we actually did see everyone like this! I hope that we can give everyone the opportunity to hear the gospel so they can have the chance to live up to their divine potential.
I love you so much, and have a fantastic week!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
This week was so great! Lots of amazing miracles happened, and I learned so much!
To start things off, we have a new investigator, T! She is from Manitoba (a province here in Canada I didn't know existed until 3 months ago...) she is wonderful! She's currently living with a less active family, and that's how she was introduced to the Church! Remember that family I told you about weeks ago that has the scariest dog on the face of this planet, that's them! Haha they are a lot nicer than their dog! Our first lesson with her was amazing! A lot of the members of the household are sick due to mold. So they requested priesthood blessings, and T was able to see that as well as receive one! It gave her a lot of peace of comfort. She's currently in a custody battle with her ex-husband for 3 of her 4 kids. They are in an awful environment with their father, so she is doing everything she can to get them back. She loves how much the gospel can bless families, and she has accepted the invitation to be baptized on March 26! We're hoping she can get her kids back soon so they can all be baptized on the same day. She's already stopped drinking coffee, and she is working on quitting smoking. She has been so prepared by the Lord, and she's already building friendships with members of the ward!
On Friday, we went to the Ponoka long-term care facility! It was their Valentine's Day party, and it was a blast! As soon as we got there, I walk over to the ladies, and there's a lady with them that I don't recognize. She starts swearing like crazy! One of the ladies tells me, "she hasn't had a cigarette since last night. They only let her go out 2 times a day." the ladies start talking to her about how bad it is for you, and she shouldn't do that anymore. She responded with, "I'm 90 years old! I should be able to have a smoke whenever I want to!" There were a few explicit phrases in that sentence..... Hahaha all of us just busted up laughing!! Once we got the ice cream cake out and the piano man started playing, she calmed right down. Goodness I love elderly people! After the piano guy left, we still had a few minutes with them. So I decided to teach them a card game! And it may or may not have been Blackjack.... they loved it! Of course, there was no bet on the line, but it was so hysterical! They would say, "hit me!" And then if it was too high they would say, "oh not that hard!" We were all almost crying we were laughing so hard! I just adore these little ladies! I definitely have a soft spot for elderly people!
Saturday was beautiful! It was 41 degrees outside! We had been asked to shovel a less active's driveway while they were out of town, so we were outside in our jeans and tshirts! It was amazing to finally get some Vitamin D! Naturally as missionaries, we started thinking of metaphors for shoveling and missionary work. By the end, we were laughing so hard! We had come up with the craziest things! We also started singing the "Frozen Heart" song from Frozen. In Canada, you don't just shovel snow, you also have to use a giant ice pick to get the frozen stuff underneath! My fore arms are still sore! But it was a blast to be outside and to serve!
This week we were able to visit a part member family we hadn't seen in a while. He's been less active since high school, the wife isn't a member, and they have two adorable daughters, 9 & 11. As far as spirituality goes, it's not a priority for them, and I'm not sure that the message that we shared helped with that, but as we left that house, I had a very clear picture in my mind of being in the sealing room with that family, all dressed in white, kneeling at the alter! It almost brought me to my knees! It was such a clear picture, and I know that this is going to happen one day! They will be an eternal family! What a great reminder that was to me of the importance of not giving up on anyone. We don't know what their timeline is like or what the Lord has in store for them, but he always has a plan. And it is our job to figure out our role in that plan! I'm so grateful that the Lord let me see that event, it really helped refocus me on why I am here!
I'll finish off with our favorite Anglican woman, D! She really is so wonderful! We saw her on Sunday, and as soon as we arrived, she told us she is giving the sermon next week in her church, and she wants our help! so we are meeting with her on Thursday to offer suggestions for her sermon! She said she's even going to say from the pulpit that the LDS sister missionaries contributed to this sermon! she is the greatest! And I really hope they don't run her out of town for it! We can see her faith building, and I'm so grateful to play a role in her journey to the restored gospel!
If there is one thing I learned this week, it is the truth that gospel blesses families! The Savior established his church in a way that would not only help us as individuals, but as families! We are all God's children, and he loves us so much! We need to help all of our brothers and sisters, especially those who don't have this knowledge! My new favorite quote is my C.S. Lewis. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship... It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is in the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours." Imagine if we actually did see everyone like this! I hope that we can give everyone the opportunity to hear the gospel so they can have the chance to live up to their divine potential.
I love you so much, and have a fantastic week!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
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