Happy Fall!

Happy Fall!                                                                                        Oct. 16, 2013

Wow it's beautiful in Toronto in the Fall! Here's a picture of some of the fall leaves in the city :)

Kelly is getting baptized on Sunday! We're so excited!! She loved fast and testimony meeting on Sunday and is looking forward to her "Born new day" :) She asked Bishop to baptize her, and he asked her to bear her testimony at her baptism! She's really nervous, but she'll do amazing. She's been writing down what she wants to say because she's so scared. But she knows this is right. It's been amazing to watch the miracle of the Atonement work in her. What a beautiful thing it is to have the opportunity to change and become more like our Father!

We met a girl named Harriet a few weeks ago when we were dropping by former investigators. She's from Ghana and is studying to be a nurse. There just so happens to be a member in our ward named Gretchen from Ghana who is a nurse! PERFECT! So we took Gretchen with us to meet with Harriet last week. Harriet's mother was not so sure about her meeting with us, but when she started talking with Gretchen in their language and she started to see that members of the church are normal people. Just happier :) Then you could really see her heart soften. Because missionaries are weird. It's true. But when we take members teaching with us, it makes the biggest difference! It was amazing to see Harriet's mother talk with Gretchen and see the Holy Ghost working within her. Miracles are happening. I promise.

This week while Sister Crandall and I were studying, I realized that we have three C's that we need to keep. Keep Commitments. Keep Commandments. Keep Covenants. This is how we return to live with God and how we can be happiest in our mortal life. In testimony meeting on Sunday, a member of the stake presidency stood up and said, "The adversary would have you put off commitments and shy away from responsibility." God does the opposite. He wants us to make and keep covenants because He wants to bless us. And  He can only bless us when we're being obedient. The counselor in the stake presidency also challenged us to deeply think about what we are grateful for. Because it was Thanksgiving in Canada on Monday, so I took the challenge. I made a huge list of things in my study journal that I am grateful for, and I think it all comes down to one thing. I am grateful for my Father in Heaven who loves me. He loves me so much that He sent His Son. And because He sent His Son, I can repent. I can change. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to repent. Preach My Gospel says, "As we repent daily, we will find that our lives will change and improve. Our hearts and our behavior will become more Christ like. We will come to feel great joy in repenting daily." I know that we truly can be forgiven of anything we have done. It's never too late to come unto Christ. I am grateful for this knowledge and for the privilege I have to be a missionary.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love and Prayers, Sister Felix

PRAY to Him & listen to Him EVERYDAY

Hello!                                                                                                                                                    Oct. 7, 2013

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS AWESOME!! Loved it. Oh my goodness :) We watched the Saturday sessions in the Weston Chapel because it's about 5 minutes away from our apartment. Some of the highlights from Saturday were, "Look ahead and believe." Edward Dube. Elder Bednar's WHOLE talk. That's one I'm stoked to study. And of course, President Uchtdorf. We had an investigator at the morning session, so I loved it every time he said, "Come. Join with us!" S. Gifford Nielson's talk was super enthusiastic! Exclamation point! :) (The hermanas in the spanish ward kept saying that the whole day! Hahaha.) Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was really touching especially because we are teaching a guy that isn't all the way there mentally, and later that night after we got off the phone with that investigator Sister Crandall just looked at me and said, "One day he (the investigator) will stand before us with a perfectly sound mind..." And that's all she said before we both started crying because we knew it was true. M. Russell Ballard... THANK YOU! His talk was phenomenal! I loved when he said, "Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do." I did not understand the importance for missionary work until I came on my mission to Canada. I promise you don't have to leave the country to experience the blessings of being a missionary. 

The Sunday morning session we watched in the Brampton Stake Center. I would have to agree with President Monson that it was one of the most powerful and spiritual conference sessions I've ever seen. I loved in Elder Eyring's talk when he talked about the grandmother with the wayward grandson and when she was praying on the way to visit him in prison she had the thought, "I gave him to you because I knew you could and would love him no matter what he does." I thought that was powerful. I loved when Elder Oaks talked about ultimate priorities. And that was the first time I heard Bonnie Oscarson speak! Man she's awesome!! I love the doctrine and concept of conversion, so I loved her talk a whole lot. I liked when Richard G. Scott talked about fortifying our weaknesses. When the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang "O Divine Redeemer" I thought of my Grandma Robinson. That was one of her favorite hymns. It was sung at her funeral and ever since then it's become one of my favorites as well. I loved President Monson's counsel "Pray to Him and listen to Him EVERYDAY." What a perfect way to end such an amazing session! We went back to Toronto to watch the afternoon session because we had a less active coming, Skye. She loved that Kevin Hamilton and Adrian Ochoa's talks! She looked up Ether 12:27 and highlighted it. She texted us later that night thanking us for inviting her to conference. It was really sweet :) I think David M. McConkie's talk was one of my favorites from the afternoon. It was extremely applicable to us as missionaries because what we mainly do is teach! Conference was just uplifting and exactly what I needed. I received so many answers to prayers and questions that I had. I know every one of those messages was inspired. I'm excited to get the Ensign with all the conference addresses so I can study them further.

One of the answers to my prayers came Saturday afternoon. I know President Monson is a prophet called by God Himself, but that morning I prayed to have that witness reconfirmed. At the end of the afternoon session the camera was on President Monson as he was walking our shaking the apostles hands. He was close to the entrance when he leaned over the ledge where he was standing and shook the hand of a small, blonde boy. He spoke with him briefly then waved and left. I cried a little bit while watching this tender scene because I knew this was an answer to my prayer. Thomas S. Monson cares about the individual. He is the President of Christ's Church. A prophet, seer, and revelator of our day. I know he is.

Kelly was able to watch all four sessions of conference in a members home with a group of people from the ward. I was so grateful to that good member!! Kelly is doing amazing! We met with her twice this week and she is so excited about her baptism on the 20th!

One of the questions I took to conference was about my purpose as a missionary. Our purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." When I was in the MTC, I had a realization that a missionaries purpose is not to invite others to go to Christ. We're inviting them to come. Implying we stand with Him, walk with Him, and strive to become like Him. I studied this a bit further on Sunday morning and found this quote from David A. Bednar that pretty much sums it up. "Coming unto Christ is not a single event with a fixed point of beginning or ending; rather, it is a process that develops and deepens during a lifetime. As an initial step in the process, we certainly must obtain knowledge and learn about Jesus and His life, teachings, and ministry. But truly coming unto Him also requires consistent obedience and striving to become like Jesus in our thoughts, motives, communications, and actions. As we 'press forward' on the pathway of discipleship, we can draw near unto the Savior with the expectation that He will draw near to us; we can seek Him diligently with teh hope that we shall find Him; we can ask with confidence that we shall receive; and we can knock anticipating that the door shall be opened unto us." I learned that coming unto Christ involves learning and becoming. I'm glad we have a lifetime to learn heaven and become worthy to go there.

I hope you all have a great week! The Church is True! :)

Love and Prayers, Sister Felix

PS. P Day next week will be on Wednesday because of Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving is this Monday but everyone celebrates it on Sunday... I think that's how it works. Not really sure :) But you'll be getting an email next Wednesday.

RS Broadcast

Hello!                                                                                                        Sept. 30, 2013

The last day in September already?! That's crazy! But it's okay :) Because that means GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEKEND! I'm so beyond excited! It was this time one year ago that my life took an unexpected, but very inspired turn. As we were watching the Relief Society General Broadcast on Saturday night I was thinking about watching the broadcast last year with my Grandma Felix in the Hyde Park Stake Center. If you would have told me that night that I would watch the next one in Toronto, I probably would have thought you were crazy! Yet here I am :) And what a blessing it is to be where I am.

Speaking of the Relief Society Broadcast, miracles happened that night! We met with a new investigator this week named Kelly. She was investigating the church about a year ago but for one reason or another she decided not to be baptized. She called up Bishop a few weeks ago telling him she wanted to come to church. He made arrangements and we were able to meet her at church last week. We met with her during the week and taught her the first half of the first lesson and then invited her to be baptized. She wasn't quite sure and said she needed some time to read, pray, and think about it. She was able to go to the broadcast on Saturday and wow! We weren't with her because she attended a different building that was closer to her, but we talked with her about it yesterday at church. She said that when the speakers were speaking she felt as if she was the only person in the room and they were talking directly to her! For those of you who weren't able to see the broadcast, 1. go watch it right now on lds.org! and 2. It was all about making and keeping covenants!! It was incredible! The whole time Sister Crandall and I were watching it we were thinking of Kelly and praying for her in our hearts! Kelly saw that as a direct answer from the Lord and is now scheduled to be baptized on October 20th! We're so excited for her :) I know that God answers prayers! I know it. I know it. I know it.

We were also able to go to the temple this week!!! What a blessing it is to have temples. I have a testimony of covenants! I have a testimony of the strength, power, and security they can bring into our lives. I left the temple Saturday morning feeling strengthened like never before! Every single appointment fell through that day, but nothing could bring my spirits down! :) Hahaha. The Toronto temple is absolutely gorgeous! Here's a picture of it :) I am so grateful for parents who helped me prepare to make and keep the sacred covenants in the Lord's house. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who always keeps his promises. Always. I know He lives. I know He loves us. I know it. I know it. I know it. If you don't know this, or if you have forgotten this truth, kneel down and ask God. He will show you that He is there. Because He is. And always will be.

Have a great week!

Love and Prayers, Sister Felix

September Photos

Lawn Service:)

Hello!                                                                                           September 23, 2013

And the transfer news is... I'm staying in Churchville YSA!!! :) :) I'm so happy about that! Sister Crandall and I decided we need at least another six weeks together. We did transfer predictions with kinder eggs yesterday with the elders in our ward. Kinder eggs are hollow chocolate eggs with a random, plastic toy in the center, and based on what the toy is, you make a prediction of whether you are staying or leaving. It was hilarious! Not very accurate, but still fun :) The picture I sent is of Sister Crandall and I right before we opened our kinder eggs.

Yesterday we decided that we needed to find Caryn. Because we hadn't heard from her in a long while! The last time we had any contact with her was at that amazing lesson over a week ago! So we drove out to her house and met her parents. It was a very cold conversation. (Keep in mind that her parents are not supportive AT ALL of her decision to join the church.) They told us that she was sleeping and that she had decided to not join the church because she wanted to stay in her family religion! We left a note for her and then went on our way. We didn't talk the whole way home. We just cried. It was probably the saddest moment of my mission! Caryn knows the Book of Mormon is true and she knows this is Christ's true church on the earth, but if she joins, it will tear her family apart. She will get baptized someday, but right now I just pray that she will stay strong and that the hearts of her family members will be softened.

There were miracles this week though :) Remember how Sister Sorensen found that less active member on the bus? We were able to meet with her twice this week! She works INSANE hours as a nurse’s assistant and so the only time we are able to meet with her is at 8:15 at night. The first time we went over we just talked with her for a little while and got to know her. We challenged her to find her Book of Mormon and start reading a little bit every day. The second time we went over we read 1 Nephi 8 with her and it was amazing to see the power of the Book of Mormon take effect that lesson. As we read about the tree of life the spirit would teach her things and she knew what she had to do to return to that true happiness she once felt. We love her so much and we're excited to continue meeting with her.

We had an appointment on Wednesday that fell through. I wish I could say that was rare, but it's not... So we took our member and dropped by a former investigator. He wasn't home either! So we walked around and talked with everyone that was outside. We saw an older guy mowing his lawn, so we went over and started talking with him. He and his wife are from Portugal. He has lung cancer and a whole host of other medical problems. I offered to help him mow his lawn, and usually people say no, because 1. I'm a girl. 2. I'm in a dress. and 3. They probably don't want me to mow their lawn anyway! But he said yes! It was the first time I've ever mowed a lawn in a dress, and my shoes turned a little green, but man, it made my day! I'm sure if anybody was watching they were probably super confused and probably got a good laugh out of it! Hahaha. The old guy, Joe, went and got his wife, Umberta, and granddaughter to see the sister missionary mowing the lawn! I only mowed the first half and then the member finished mowing while Sister Crandall and I talked with Joe and Umberta and got their information so missionaries could come teach them in Portuguese because their English is limited. Joe and Umberta honestly made my day :) I have a testimony of service. It softens hearts and benefits not only the recipient, but the one who is serving. So pray for an opportunity to serve someone this week!! Ready, go :)

I hope you all have a fantastic week! Keep smiling :) The Church is true!

Love and Prayers, Sister Felix

Faith in God includes faith in His timing

Hello!                                                                                       September 16, 2013

           

It's definitely starting to cool down up here. Fall is here and winter is creeping up on us. Everyone says that Toronto is beautiful in the fall though. So I'm excited for the leaves to change colors. A few months before I left on my mission I was talking with my dad on the phone and he told me some exciting news that he realized that day! I only have to survive one Canadian winter :) Hahaha. So bring it on!

This week we had a dinner appointment! Yahoo! It was a family from Ecuador and they made us papoosas! Mmm!! I think I ate three... Yikes. No wonder missionaries gain weight! It was totally worth it though! The father told me to try a jalepeno pepper with it and it was super good. Just like my mom says, it's all about the food :)

We went on exchanges this week and the sister training leader I went with was so amazing! She's was born in New Zealand then moved to Australia when she was young, so she is a polynesian with an Australian accent! She's awesome. We went contacting at some places around a university campus because now that school has started there are a lot of YSA age people around there. She really helped me understand the principle from Preach My Gospel that says "teach when you find, find when you teach." We would start talking to someone and then ask if they wanted to learn more, and some of them did. So we sat on some grass and taught them about either the Restoration or the Plan of Salvation. We had one lesson with a guy that was from Lebanon, and the spirit was so strong! It was awesome! It was so nice to see another perspective and how another sister does missionary work because every missionary is different in the way they do missionary work, so it was nice to try new things and get some advice from a more experienced sister. Exchanges are a wonderful thing! It also made me realize how much I love Sister Crandall! After the exchange, we were so excited to see each other! We were talking yesterday about how one of our strengths as a companionship is our unity. She and I have gotten really close as we set goals, and then work together to achieve them.

We had an amazing lesson with Caryn this week! She has felt like she needs to slow things way down for her family's sake, but postponing her baptism would give the adversary more time to dissuade her. Sister Crandall and I have both felt really strongly that she needs to be baptized sooner rather than later. We knew we needed to help her set a baptismal date, we just didnt know what specific date. We prayed about it and really sought guidance from our Heavenly Father on when she should be baptized. We left our apartment and started driving to the lesson without knowing what date to commit her to! It reminded me of the scripture in 1 Nephi when he was walking into Jerusalem to get the brass plates and didn't know how he was going to get them, but he was "led by the spirit not knowing beforehand what he should do." That's how I felt. Once we got to the chapel where we were having the lesson we came together and said a prayer. We talked about a date and both felt peace. We planned as much as we could, we put our trust in God, and knew that He would provide a way for Caryn to be baptized on this day. When she got there and we began teaching her and talking about baptism and confirmation, the spirit was so strong. We tried to commit her to the date, but she was still worried about her family. We promised her as set apart representatives of Jesus Christ that if she exercised her faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the hearts of her family would be softened and she could be baptized on this date. She said she would pray about it, and let us know on Sunday. I think this lesson was the boldest I've ever been on my mission! After the lesson, Sister Crandall and I just sat there almost dumbstruck trying to believe the promises that we just extended to Caryn! But we know that they were inspired, and that God will back us up. She didn't come to church yesterday, and we haven't been able to contact her, so we don't know if she's accepted the baptismal date yet or not... We are praying very hard for her and we hope she's alright.

Another miracle of the week! So when Sister Sorensen and I were companions, Bishop gave us an assignment to visit a less active member in the ward. We tried calling the number and stopping by the address, but the phone number didn't work, and the person that lived at the address said she had moved years ago! So we told Bishop and moved on. But now Sister Sorensen is serving in Toronto, and she was on the bus the other day and met this less active girl! She got her new phone number and address and gave them to us throught the referral system. We called this girl and she said she would love to meet with us sometime! Miracle. I'm still trying to believe that happened :) I just think it's so cool how our Heavenly Father times everything perfectly! One of my favorite quotes is, "Faith in God includes faith in His timing." It's so true.

Well transfer calls are this sunday so pray for me :) I honestly can't believe this is the 6th week of my third transfer! Yikes times flies. I don't know whether I will go, or whether I will stay and finish training Sister Crandall. But I know I will be wherever the Lord needs me. I know this is Christ's church. I know it is built upon His Gospel. I know that only through His Atonement can we truly become converted so that when He comes again we will recognize Him. Because we will be like Him. I love being a missionary! And I love all of you :)

Have a great week!

Love and Prayers, Sister Brittnie Felix

Be a Little Better Tomorrow

Hello!                                                                               September 9, 2013

Zone Conference was AMAZING! President Scott talked about comfort zones and how we need to leave our comfort zone if we want to grow and improve. We talked about why we need to stretch and how to do so. He said that people ask him his secret to being successful in life, and he always tells them, "I just try to be a little better tomorrow than I was today." I love that. He said that if we live by that everyday of our lives, we'll be amazed at what we become. He also talked about testimony vs. conversion. He said that those with a testimony have membership and priesthood authority, while those who are converted have discipleship and priesthood power. We talked about how conversion only comes through "many trials and much testing." Life is hard because it's supposed to be! How else are we going to become converted?! I loved this discussion from zone conference! President Scott is definitely an inspired man. We had workshops about helping investigators come to church and working with members. Then Sister Scott spoke :) Always a highlight. She definitely has a way with words. Her whole talk was about Moses 1 and how we can apply it to ourselves. Some of my favorite quotes that she said were, "God is real. He is eternal, and so are His words." "Consistency casts out mists of darkness." "Satan is miserable because of his choices-Don't let the same happen to you!" "Christ has paid the price and paved the way." She's awesome :) At the end of the conference, the departing missionaries bore their testimonies. There was one testimony that struck me really hard. It was a Spanish speaking Elder that was a convert to the church. He talked about the miracles he's seen in his family since he's been on a mission and then he bore a powerful testimony about the Atonement. Two of my favorite things that he said were, "It's through our agency that we can give our heart to Him. There is no other way." "As you do missionary work with your heart, you will find yourself." It's so true. The principle of finding yourself by losing yourself is real! And you don't have to serve a mission to lose yourself by the way. You just have to exercise your agency and give your heart to your Heavenly Father.

We also had Stake Conference yesterday and there was a visiting General Authority! Elder David S. Baxter. It was an incredible conference! President and Sister Scott both spoke. How lucky am I?! That I got to hear them speak twice in one week :) They both talked on the Book of Mormon. President Scott talked about the prophets who wrote the Book of Mormon bearing their testimonies of it's truth and divinity. He read some of their accounts and it was powerful! Then he added his own testimony and there was no denying that it was true. All of it. It was powerful! Then Elder Baxter spoke and one of the first things he said really impacted me. "To be counted as one of His servants is one of the greatest privileges of my life." I looked down at my nametag and felt extremely privileged in that moment. I always knew it was a privilege, but knowing that Elder Baxter and I shared the same title as "servant" held a lot of meaning for me. Who knew that being called a servant would ever feel so rewarding? :) He then gave his address which was packed full of doctrine! He talked about the true nature of the Godhead, he talked about covenants, he talked about why we don't use the sign of the cross as our symbol, he talked about prophets, he talked about the Book of Mormon. It was so good to hear the foundational fundamentals of the true Doctrine of Christ! He didn't mince words either :) I loved it! One thing that he said was, "We practice the highest form of Christianity in the Temple. We perform ordinances there that bless ALL of God's children."

I had an interesting experience yesterday though. The whole morning I felt feelings of inadequacy, discomfort, and just couldn't shake it. I can't explain why, but I knew it was Satan and I knew I didn't want to feel that way. I couldn't fulfill my role as a missionary without the spirit, and I couldn't feel the peace of the Holy Ghost. I prayed in my heart all morning for help to shake this feeling and to feel peace. It wasn't until half way through the meeting, right before the intermediate hymn that I received an answer. And it didn't come in the way I was expecting. A small girl, probably five or six, was sitting right next to me and her family was on the other side of her. She had been coloring quietly next to me throughout the whole meeting. Right before the hymn, she tapped me on the arm and started to tell me about her picture. It was a picture of her standing next to a grape tree and a flower. She had drawn the sun and birds and clouds in the sky with her bold Crayola crayons. She handed the picture to me and explained she had created it for me. Then she leaned over and wrapped her small arms around me and hugged me. I immediately started to cry. I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and felt God's love for me through a six year old girl. She was an answer to my prayers! Isn't it amazing how God sends his love through the simple acts and small arms of a child? They are so close to the spirit! It was amazing :) I had her write her name on the picture and I'll keep it forever as a reminder.

Know that God loves you. This church is true because it's Christ's church. It's built upon His Gospel. It's the only way to be truly happy in this life and to be with our families in the next. Have a great week!

Love and Prayers, Sister Felix