Week 58: SNOW

HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING.

I can't even believe it's that time of the year again. Time is literally flashing before my eyes. 

I just wanted to start out by saying, God is just so good. This past week has been just wonderful, even from the very beginning.

Transfer day was Tuesday and because I lived in Richmond (which is central to our mission and where the mission office is located), we got to have so many other sisters stay with us for different parts of the day while they waited for their new companions to arrive. First thing in the morning, Sister Seiter dropped off her baby (my grand baby) Sister Crane, and then Sister Seiter headed to Surrey. Sister Crane got to stay with us until her new companion, Sister Ricks (who was my companion in Surrey) came and got her. So then I got to say goodbye to all of my favorite Sisters. IT WAS WONDERFUL! How grateful am I not only today, but everyday, for the people that God has blessed me with who have made a permanent imprint on my life. He certainly knows what and who we need. And Sister Hubert is no exception. 

Eventually I headed up North, and yes it has already started snowing up here in Prince George.

Pray for me lol. 

Besides the cold, Prince George is just wonderful, and the people here are a m a z i n g. I've been told that PG (Prince George) is the promised land, and man is that ever true. I don't think I've ever taught so many people in my life. They are each so wonderful, with such unique backgrounds, but so many have the honest desire to improve the quality of their life, to refocus their priorities, and to build their relationship with God. 

I know it's really just Canadian Thanksgiving, but my heart is full with gratitude for the Savior and his impact on my life. How grateful I am for this selfish, once in a life time opportunity I have to serve for 18 months and be His hands here in the Canada, Vancouver Mission. There truly is no greater call. I love Him. And I know that it is because of Him and through living His teachings that we all "may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness." Mosiah 2:41. 

"Our ability and capacity to experience joy and happiness has nothing to do with our circumstances, but everything to do with our focus." And I know that as we focus on our Savior, and follow him, that our joy will be full, always. And that's a promise. 

I sure love you guys! 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Pictures for this week:

1) Elder and Sister Wilson, the best Senior Couple of your life. Their son is also currently serving in the Birmingham, Alabama mission, so we have a special place in each others hearts. 

2) Sweet Sister Gartside (: You'd never guess who is staying in Richmond and who is going to PG

3/4) SISTER RICKS

5) We love the sisters <3 Sister Cozzman and Sister Webster 

6) Sister Hubie a.k.a Sister Hubert (:

Week 57: I will be abitious for Christ

Ni hao wo de jia ting,

Basically that means, hello my family in Chinese. Don't get too impressed, I haven't learned to become fluent and I just had one of the Chinese-speaking missionaries type that up for me. My Chinese is poor at best. Essentially, I've learned how to say hello, and Jesus Christ. That's all I need right?

Any ways, Transfer calls were this past weekend. I am being moved up North to Prince George... 

just in time for the winter ;) My new companion is Sister Hubert, we served together in Surrey, she is wonderful and has been out 1 transfer longer than me!

In other news, my sweet baby, Sister Seiter is going to be an STL in Surrey! I am so so happy for her!

This past week's General Conference was absolutely wonderful. If you didn't get an opportunity to catch all 4 sessions, please go do!

Every single speaker spoke so beautifully about our Savior, Jesus Christ. His life, his ministry, his divinity. I know that He is truly the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He loves us so so much, and has given us everything. 

"He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation." 2 Nephi 26:24

Jesus Christ has given us everything. He atoned for the sins, sorrows, infirmities, afflictions, disappointments, and grief of the world. You name it, and He has felt it. And He did that because He understands. He knows this life is hard, He knows that we experience tragedy, trials, and afflictions. And He loves us.

He wants us so desperately to find joy and to be able to be cleansed from sin, and return to live with our Heavenly Father again. He died, so that you and I, could overcome everything that we experience in mortality. His sacrifice has the power to cleanse us, heal us, and enable us to do things beyond our own capacities. 

The gift of the atonement is available to all, if we choose it. 

Maybe this is sacrilegious, but sometimes when I reflect the atonement of Jesus Christ I think about Harry Potter. Now bare with me for a moment. You know that scene when Harry is talking to the Professor trying to get his memory so that he can know what Voldemort asked him about that day. Personally, I find that scene very powerful. As Harry reminds the professor of his mother, who died to protect him. And says that in that moment, that her death will be completely for nothing if they can't overcome Voldemort. 

Jesus Christ has already paid the price. His sacrifice is infinite and it's reality and power much greater than the movie Harry Potter. But that sacrifice and atonement is pointless, it is all a waste if we choose to not come to him, and allow him to heal us, allow him to lead us home. I know that repentance is the central purpose of our lives. It is a joyful process that allows us to become better and stronger, and allows us to reap all the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Each of us are the inn-keepers here, and we decide how much room we have for the Savior. 

I just want to leave my witness that He lives and loves us, and it is never to late to turn to him. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Pic's

Sister Roeder, the best member missionary of my whole life and a woman who is a walking testimony of the power of the atonement.

trying to take a picture with our sweet investigator, Maessoun and her son Joseph

Week 56: Faith, trust, and General Conference

FAM JAM,

How is everyone doing down South?

This past weekend we had the opportunity to watch the General Women's Session of Broadcast. Let me just say, IT WAS AMAZING! Richmond is part of the Surrey Stake so we got to watch it at the Surrey Church Building which was my very first area on my mission..... what a tender mercy! I got to see all of my old members, and they recognized me really quickly when they heard me laugh. Unfortunately Sima and Shelby weren't there, so I didn't get to see my two babies, but that's okay! 

Literally every single talk given was like an answer to my prayers, and I was hoping to share some insights from President Uchtdorf's talk, but I accidentally left my journal at home. Sorry guys! I've really been slacking these past few weeks! Of course his written talk isn't up on lds.org yet, so I'll just include an attachment to the video. Essentially I just realized, and was reminded again and again, that we need to have faith and trust in God as we pray for guidance. 

"Faith in Jesus Christ is more than a passive belief in Him. It means believing that He is the Son of God and that He suffered for your sins, afflictions, and infirmities.  It means acting on that belief. Faith in Jesus Christ leads you to love Him, trust Him, and obey His commandments."

I think too often I forget that God knows the bigger picture. He sees things that we can not. But I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ love us. Perfectly. Our faith allows us to trust in their will and love for us, that everything that we experience in this life truly will work out for our best benefit. Faith and trust build us up and allow us to remember God's eternal plan for his children.

"For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."   Alma 36:3

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/media/session_0_talk_7/5139845053001?lang=eng

LOVE YA'LL HUGE! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Pictures for the week:

So apparently Once Upon a Time is filmed here in Richmond BC, right in my area so last P-day we decided to go for a look. Luckily for us, they just happened to be preparing to film last week and so they had already switched all the signs on all the shops from their regular "steveston sign" to say "storybrooke". It was so fun!

1) Obvious.

2) Granny's diner

3) Mr. Golds shop... they clearly weren't done setting everything up lol

4) random street art

5 on)

CANADA