Week 47: Don't let your boat rock.

Twinning

Salam,

That is hello in Farsi.

This week was filled with miracles. I wish I had enough time to share them all, but I'll try to give some of the highlights (:

1) Emily, the less active we have been working with, IS COMING TO CHURCH JULY 31st. She is just amazing. She  is a living testimony of the principle of progression. We each fall short sometimes, actually several times in this life, but through Jesus Christ there is always a way back! Her testimony is so solid, and she is repenting and improving everyday. Two weeks ago after our visit she texted us asking for a Book of Mormon, as hers was in storage, and when we came this past Monday she had been reading it every single night. And you could just see how happy she was. That light of Christ inside her is just glowing again, and she truly is beginning to heal from her past decisions, as well as the heartbreak and loss of her father that she has been dealing with. 

2) Brianna is at her moms for the next two weeks (boo), but we are still meeting with Mark. They are coming to church next Sunday for the first time, we are so excited! Mark also texted us the sweetest thing which I'll attach in another e-mail!

3) We also just started teaching this sweet girl named, Ava, she is 16 and literally adorable. She hasn't grown up with too much religious background so she is very open and believes the things we teach her. Her grandmother has been her only spiritual influence in her life, but through that, she has been able to learn and hear experiences of how God is there and loves us and will answer our prayers and so she fully trusts that she can build that relationship too and is excited to keep learning and do that. 

Really though, we have just been able to find and meet so many wonderful people.

This past week we had District Meeting, which is a meeting with a couple of other sets of missionaries serving in surrounding areas. Each week we have the opportunity to continue to learn how to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Spirit, that is truly able to teach us, all things. 

This past week's District meeting was wonderful. We've been talking a lot about Diligence recently. In Preach My Gospel under Diligence it says,

Diligence is steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord's work. 

At a previous conference we had a couple of months ago, when talking about being more diligent missionaries we stopped to discuss really what each of those words meant individually. One sister said, when thinking about the words steady and consistent, that she felt like that meant not allowing your boat to be rocked. That even when the storms of life make our road kind of shaky and rocky, not to let that effect our boats ability to stay a float. 

That really stuck out to me and is something I have continued to ponder these past couple of weeks. And I've learned and realized that it's truly our faith that allows our boat to be secure, despite the winds. 

In Matthew 14, the experience of Peter walking on water is described. 

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter, as soon as he took his eyes off of the Savior, and focused on the boisterous winds and tempest sea, began to sink. Likewise, we too sink, as we take our eyes off of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and allow all the things that are going wrong, or all the things that seem hard or scary or unfair, or whatever it may be, distract us. We loose faith, and our individual boats begin to rock. 

Each of us can be diligent in every aspect of our lives. As we keep our sights fixed on the hope and light that our Savior offers, we, like Peter, have the faith to walk through the storms of this life. We too, can consistently work hard, and do all that is required of us, despite any circumstance of tidal wave that may appear. 

I am so grateful for this gospel, and especially for my Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom I put my full trust and faith. I am so grateful to know that because of Him, each of us truly can "be of good cheer", no matter what phase of life we are in. He loves us. He will always carry us home. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Also, here are some quotes from Brianna last week!

1) "I almost have Joseph Smith's vision thing memorized because I have just read it so many times!!" 

2) (After teaching them about eternal families) *Turns around to her dad* "I get another life with you!!!!"

3) (After teaching the plan of Salvation) "Before I knew about this thing, I was scared to die.. But now I'm not scared anymore!! It actually seems kind of fun!" 

4) (A text we received from Mark) "Brianna just said that the two of you are her new BFF's"

5) "I like you guys more than I like chocolate."

6) Us: Can we come back on Thursday? Mark: Yeah, that should be good! Us: Let us know if anything changes! Brianna: Dad. Don't let anything change. 

AHHHH WE JUST LOVE HER WITH OUR WHOLE ENTIRE SOULS. 

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 Black berries are growing everywhere on the streets, yum

Como Lake

Week 46: The Plan of Happiness

Fam Jam,

This week was wonderful. I am so grateful to be able to stay here in Coquitlam and to be able to serve along side Sister Seiter. I love her.  We may not be teaching a lot right now, and have been former-ed several times this past week (that's when an investigator decides they don't want to meet anymore), but we've been able to see a lot of progress throughout our time here, and God continues to bless us.

As for Mark and Brianna, they are doing so good! THEY ARE A M A Z I N G. Monday night we followed up on their prayers and reading. Brianna said that she feels happy after she prays, and that she has been practicing. Which is amazing on its own, but to top it off, she had been at her mom's house the previous week, so that means she was remembering to pray all on her own. WOWZA. We asked Mark the same thing, and he said that he is starting to feel more open, and he feels different after he prays. (: I know God is listening to them, and that He loves his children.

Then, right before we started teaching the POS, Brianna also said, "I almost have that Joseph Smith thing memorized I've been reading it so much." She was talking about the 1st vision. It's amazing how the spirit works. No matter who you are- age, education, race, etc.- all of us can receive a witness from the spirit. Brianna has truly proven that's true. As we continue to teach her she opens up more and more and has the best, most sincere questions, and is so easy to trust and believe. It's no wonder Jesus Christ taught us so many times in the scriptures to be like children. She has taught me so much, and has reminded me of my gratitude for Heavenly Father's Perfect Plan of Happiness. A plan in which each of us has the opportunity to come to earth, gain a body, gain experiences, and to grow to become more like our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

This plan isn't simply individual, "all human beings- male and female -are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. " I know that the Plan of Salvation is God's plan for us and our families. He has created it to enable us to grow and to experience joy, to reach our potentials, and his greatest desire is for us to be able to return home, to live with him again some day. That is our divine destiny. 

As we were teaching, Brianna's face lit up and she turned to her dad and said, "I get another life with you."

How grateful I am for this knowledge. That because of Jesus Christ, no matter what happens in this life, everything will work out for our best good, and that one day, we will all be able to live with our families again. 

Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I love Him and am forever grateful to be serving as His hands in the Canada, Vancouver mission. 

I love you all, and am praying for you! I hope everyone is enjoying their summers and is not getting to roasted in the sun! 

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

First, I'll just go ahead and apologize for still not having a picture with Mark and Brianna. We did actually take one, Mark just still hasn't sent it to us yet.... so stay tuned. But Pictures for this week is as follows:

There is this super great park called Rocky Point Park that is alongside a lake and is just to die for. We had lunch at Pajo's, which is apparently a really big thing here and where everything you eat is in a cone through the table so it was fun. 

Sunday with Helen (:

Week 45: Being a missionary is one of the greatest callings in the world

This past week has been wonderful. Being a missionary is one of the greatest callings in the world. We have just met so many wonderful people this past week and I know that God is very aware of his children. 

We got transfer calls on Saturday and Sister Seiter and I will be staying! We are so excited to continue working with our wonderful friends!

Mark and Brianna are absolutely wonderful, and I just want to be with them forever. Brianna has been at her mom's this past week so we just met with Mark on his own. He didn't grow up with much of a religious background at all, and as we have continued to meet with him and his daughter he has just realized how much he maybe does want this. He said it's a lot easier just being atheist and not believing at all, or being christian and believing, because if you are just somewhere in the middle then your left lost, not knowing anything. I had never really thought about it that way. I am continually grateful for the knowledge that I have of my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

This past week we had a Zone Meeting that was absolutely amazing. I am just so grateful to be serving along side our Savior, and to be entrusted to do some of His work. I know that he has truly set the example, and as we learn to follow his example that we will be able to experience pure joy. 

I love you all and will send you more updates next week, and hopefully some more pictures with some of my favorite people! 

Dinner with Sister Richardson (:

Happy 4th!

It was Helen's birthday this past week so we went out to celebrate! Her and Sister Macindoe are like our mommas here in Coquitlam. They came to the church 2 years ago and are now preparing to go to the temple. They come out with us to lessons throughout the week and just teach us so much! I love them. 

I didn't have enough time to send these pictures last week, but we may or may not have had some electrical difficulties and had to move some things around. 

Week 44: Happy 4th of July

Hey Fam Jam,

10 months

Happy Canada Day!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY. We tried to celebrate a little bit of Canada Day, but it just wasn't the same. 

Also, the Canada Mail strike continues so that is weird. 

Things are wonderful here in Coquitlam, I can't believe at the end of this week this transfer will be over. I just love it here. Last week I mentioned the cutest family that we have been working with- Mark and Brianna. Mark and Brianna are Canadian, but they don't have much of a religious background so we've started with the basics, God and prayer. My favorite. 

They are doing so good! Mark (the father) had to step out of one of ours lessons last week where we taught them to pray and so when we came the next visit Brianna said, "I taught my dad how to pray," and then continued to explain what she said to us. It was just the best and Mark and Brianna each said a prayer that lesson. We finished teaching the restoration this past week and asked what they have been thinking/ feeling about everything we've taught so far. Sweet little Brianna said, "I think I believe." And then shared a personal experience with us. My heart just melted, she is A M A Z I N G. When we asked Mark about it, he said that he it's all really still new to him, since he didn't grow up with any religious background, but it's all good and he does want to keep learning. Sister Seiter and I think he wants it especially for his daughter, but we know that as he keeps commitments and continues to learn and grow and have spiritual experiences of his own that he will know that God is really there for the both of them. They couldn't come to church this past week because Brianna was at her mom's on Sunday, but they said they'd come this weekend (: 

We are also teaching Dan (Mark's cousin), who is a little more difficult. He is a R E A L L Y big thinker and is in his head a lot analyzing things so we are very bold with him and he understands that we are here to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ because we know it is true and has blessed our lives, and will bless his life as well. He also doesn't have much of a religious background, but is oddly educated about random parts of the bible so that is always interesting. We know the power of the Book of Mormon and have been really working with him to read it so that he can have that connection with God again and so that he can find the truth. He said a prayer for the first time this week in our lesson, and hopefully between him, Mark, and Brianna, they will all be able to encourage and support each other in making these new changes.

We've also had ATON of miracles with going out finding people this week. God literally has just put us in the perfect place at the perfect time. I had the opportunity to teach a young man how to pray at the bus stop the other day, and after talking to so many people about prayer and about God this past week I've just really been pondering my own relationship with God and really the purpose and power of prayer. 

I love prayer. And I know that it is the way that we connect to God. He doesn't care about how long it is, or how eloquently we speak. His greatest desire is to hear from us, and all he asks is that we be sincere. I'm all out of time for today, but I know that God loves us, and wants to hear from us.

I love you all!

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Duean and Elizabeth. She is from Thailand and has been investigating the church for 2 years. Due to complications with her husband, she can't be baptized, but boy does she love her Savior Jesus Christ. 

Sister Macindoe is literally the best. She is currently preparing to go to the Temple! 

We Tried!

Sister Hall From Coquitlam sent me these last two pics

Our sisters with a new Persian speaking convert.  Found this selfie on my phone after they had used it all morning with the Google translate.

From dinner last week!

We love having sister Robertson in our ward!  She is a breath of fresh air!

The Hall family