Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

October 14, 2014




HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! (Yesterday) We ate pie three times. So it was a great Thanksgiving! We also saw many miracles from going out and working! We met with an investigator that we haven't seen in weeks, we met two families that we will begin teaching this week, and we were able to teach several other people! It was a great day!


We had MLC this week and it was incredible as usual! We talked a lot about the mission culture. President Clayton went up to the board and wrote "In the CTM we..." And then we shouted out phrases that described the Canada Toronto Mission. Some of them were: fear no man, are obedient, achieve the standards of excellence, are pure in heart, are Preach My Gospel missionaries, etc. Then President Clayton drew footprints on the board and explained that we have big shoes to fill and we named some of the people that had preached on this soil: Joseph Smith, President Monson, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, M.Russell Ballard, Neil A. Maxwell, Tad R. Callister, Brigham Young, and President Scott. Then he said, "I think all of what we do in the CTM can be summed up in one statement." He then proceeded to write, "In the CTM we invite others to come unto Christ." We discussed how we can take our purpose from our mind to our heart. It was a powerful council. We also talked a lot about the Work of Salvation and how to work with members more effectively. It's pretty much all the brethren have been talking about for the past few years is the WORK OF SALVATION! So we're trying to work in better unity with ward leaders and building the church in this area, not just bringing people in, but truly establishing the church here. Sister Hawryluk and I have already seen miracles as we've applied things we discussed in our area.


This discussion took me back to another experience. Rewind to almost a year ago, Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy came to our mission and he asked us a question, "What is the Work of Salvation?" People were throwing out answers but we weren't really hitting the target. Finally, a sister raised her hand and said, "Member missionary work, convert retention, activation, temples and family history work, and teaching the gospel." Elder Hallstrom was amazed and said, "Yes! And do you know where that is found?" She answered, "Handbook 2, Chapter 5." He was thrilled! That moment was when I learned what the work of salvation is. It is those 5 things and they are essential and central to keeping our covenants. I have a testimony of the work of salvation because it is the Lord's work. He is at the head of His church. And His work is the most important work on the face of this earth. Joseph Smith said, "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to share the gospel." I know this to be true. And I'll step off my soap box now :)


Back to MLC :) For the first time, we had a special meeting with just the sister training leaders and Sister Clayton and it was AMAZING! We talked about many things, but my favorite thing we talked about was correction why it's important and how to correct and it was just great! Sister Mandla, Sister Bodine, Sister Stoddard and I did a musical number- "Because He Lives" and it turned out pretty good! After MLC, we were late getting back into Brantford because traffic was really bad, so we missed our dinner appointment, but they were so kind and packed it up to go for us! So we went and picked it up right before a lesson with an investigator named Jason. We taught him the Word of Wisdom the lesson before and he was going to have a hard time giving up tea. But when we went over that night he said he hadn't had any that day! We were so proud of him! He also got rid of all of his remaining tea so it wouldn't be a temptation! Miracles. So many miracles.


I could just go on an on about the miracles that happened this week. The Lord's hand is so evident if we will simply develop eyes that see. A scripture that stood out to me this week came from my mission chapter. Alma 26. It was verse 22 that stood out and it reads, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good words, and prayeth continually without ceasing-unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." When we invite someone to come unto Christ, and they accept, they have thousands of ancestors. One person can definitely be the means of bringing thousands to repentance of both sides of the veil. This hit me so hard this week and it was a great reminder.


Have a fantastic week!
Love and Prayers, Sister Felix
"Perhaps the greatest indicator of charity is the capacity to recognize and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self absorbed and turn inward." -David A. Bednar