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

New Companion

Hello :)                                                                                August 19, 2013

Transfers went well! My new companion's name is Sister Crandall and she's from Idaho! She reminds me so much of myself when I first got off that plane. She asks lots of the same questions I had and has a lot of the same concerns. She does all she can to be exactly obedient and has a real urgency to talk with everyone about the restored gospel! The fact that we are companions builds my testimony that President Scott is a man that makes decisions based on revelation. I love Sister Crandall so much already and know that this is going to be a transfer of miracles!

On Tuesday morning, transfer day, we went to the mission home for the trainers meeting and to meet our new companions. During our meeting, the new missionaries were downstairs receiving instruction about the mission, and we were upstairs having a discussion with the assistants about how we can be successful trainers. I'll be honest, I was terrified. We discussed some of our concerns as trainers, but that didn't bring peace to my heart. I just prayed throughout the whole meeting that I would be the trainer, example, and missionary that this new sister needed. I prayed for strength because I knew I would need strength beyond my own. I prayed for my new companion. I prayed for the assurance that I was ready to be a trainer. Once I met Sister Crandall, all of those prayers were answered. She knows her purpose as a missionary, and she's ready to work hard!

Yesterday the Relief Society lesson was on grace. It was a fantastic lesson! It reminded me of a talk that Brad Wilcox gave called "His Grace is Sufficient." If you haven't read that talk, GO READ IT! My favorite quote from it is, "The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed. Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God, but no unchanged thing will even want to." That's why missions are hard. That's why life is hard. Because change is hard. But once we understand the Atonement, we will want to apply it and change our lives. We will want to become more Christlike and align our will with our Heavenly Father's.

I am so grateful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that I've had this knowledge all my life. I am grateful to have a lifetime to show my Heavenly Father that gratitude. That is one of my favorite questions to ask people on the street. "What are you most grateful for?" Then I ask "How do you show that gratitude to God?" I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He is our Redeemer and that only through the grace of His Atonement we can change to become who God needs us to become. I love the Book of Mormon. It's true. 

Have a fabulous week!

Love and Prayers, B

Miracles & Tree of Life

Hello:)                                                                                  August 26, 2013

It's the last week in August already?! Man that's crazy. I think time goes by faster when you're wearing a name tag...

                                                                                         

A lot of our investigators couldn't meet and everyone is getting ready to go back to school. Therefore, YSA people are really busy. But what else is new :) We did a lot of finding and met some really cool people this week! Rosalie was my favorite. (If I'm allowed to have favorites!) We had a dinner appointment at a member's home and she fed us a delicious meal! We went across the street to eat dessert with her non member neighbor, Rosalie. She is probably one of the most incredible people I've ever met. We ate mile high peanut butter pie and talked about faith in Jesus Christ. Her testimony of prayer was amazing! I read her my favorite verse in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:48 about praying with all the energy of heart. She LOVED it! Sister Crandall and I wrote our testimonies in the front of the Book of Mormon and gave it to her. She was really excited to read it! Before we left, she took our hands and prayed with and for us. The spirit was so incredibly strong! She prayed for our safety, our families, our health. It was one of those prayers where you know, that they know who they are talking with. After she prayed, she had our member friend say a prayer. She didn't let go of our hands when she finished her prayer. She looked at our friend, and said, "These girls have a special spirit with them. Just look at their eyes." She said another prayer for Sister Crandall specifically and then another for me. We all left feeling uplifted. It is experiences like this that show the goodness and love of God. In that moment, I knew one hundred percent that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me personally. He knows and loves Sister Crandall, Rosalie, and our member friend each individually. He is aware of heartaches, sorrows, joy, pain, doubts, fears. Everything. I am so grateful to have met Rosalie and to have been able to feel God's love in her home. I'm confident she will be taught and baptized. I just wish she was YSA so we could keep meeting with her!

We had another miracle yesterday. As we walked into sacrament meeting the first counselor in the Bishopric pulled us aside and pointed out a blonde girl sitting by herself on one side of the chapel. He said she was a nonmember and asked us to go talk with her. We went and sat down and began to talk with her. She said she wanted to learn more about the church. We asked her how she came in contact with the church and she said she was in a long distance relationship with a Mormon and wanted to know and experience what his beliefs were! We explained a little bit about our services and sat with her for sacrament meeting then got her phone number and set up an appointment for this week! She is so prepared to hear the gospel! She loved sacrament meeting and is really excited to meet with us this week. She even texted us and said how nice it was to meet us and said she was looking forward to learning more. Miracle. She is a miracle. And an answered prayer. There were also two other nonmembers that just showed up to church yesterday! I didn't meet them until Sunday school though. They are from Russia and seemed really intrigued and interested in our beliefs and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm really excited to meet with them too! God is preparing so many people to receive His Gospel. It's incredible.

I studied a lot about the tree of life this week. It is one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon! The Oct 2011 Ensign was a special edition all about the Book of Mormon, and I studied a talk by Elder Bednar that was in it. He talks about three kinds of people that are pressing forward in the dream. The first started on the path then got lost in the midst of darkness. When talking about this group of people it doesn't even mention the iron rod. The second group of people were pressing forward "clinging" to the rod of iron. They made it to the tree, partook of the fruit, but then were ashamed when they were mocked by the people in the great and spacious building. Elder Bednar said this about this group of people. "Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional bursts of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the word of God." The third group of people made it to the tree by continuously holding fast to the rod of iron. Then when they made it to the tree, they fell down. I think it's interesting that it mentions that they fell down. I picture them falling to their knees in gratitude. Because they recognized the tree. They recognized the fruit. They knew the value of the tree because they paid the price to know it. They read and heeded the word of God. They knew the price could only be paid because Christ paid the price for their sins. And they recognized Him when they saw Him. I think we forget about the small and simple things sometimes because they are just that. Small and simple. But they are crucial, essential, and vital if we want to return to live with our Heavenly Father.

I know Christ lives. I know this Gospel is true. I am so grateful for the blessing it is to be able to share this message with everyone. I know Joseph Smith was called of God that through him the the Gospel, Church, and Authority of Jesus Christ are on the earth. I have a testimony of the power of the priesthood. Everything I hold dear in life, I have because the priesthood is on the earth. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives. That is why I am here.

Have a great week :)

Love and Prayers, B

Where you are supposed to be

Hello!                                                                                                          August 12, 2013

We got transfer calls last night... and the verdict is! I'm staying in Churchville YSA! YAY :) And I'll be training! Which means my companion will be coming straight from the MTC :) I'm super excited, but a little nervous at the same time. I have faith that the Lord will qualify me for this calling though. Sister Sorensen will be training again too! She's not going too far :) She'll be serving in Toronto, so hopefully I'll still get to see her sometimes. Transfers are tomorrow, so we will go to the mission home for a trainers meeting, we'll have a testimony meeting, and then President Scott will pair us up with our new companions!

I'll tell you about two highlight lessons of the week. The first was with an investigator named Caitlyn. We watched "Finding Faith in Christ" in the waiting room in the Toronto Temple. SO POWERFUL! I love the temple. I have a huge testimony of the spirit and power that resides at the temple. The second was with a girl named Claudia. She is a referral from a member in our ward. If you haven't been able to watch the work of salvation broadcast, go watch it! This is how missionary work is supposed to be. We taught Claudia the first lesson, the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first part of the first lesson, the very first thing we teach every investigator, is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. I love that this is our first message to the world. The first thing our Father in Heaven wants us to teach. We asked the member how that knowledge has blessed her in her life, and she just started crying. Then I started tearing up. (shocker!) Then this member shared her testimony about the happiness and peace this gospel brings. It was seriously the most amazing lesson! Charity is a powerful thing. 

Another highlight of the week, I had a Grandma Robinson moment on Saturday :) Our district went contacting in downtown Brampton at a farmers market. There was a saxophone player sitting on the side of the street playing "Up the Lazy River." I just smiled :) His saxophone had an old, airy tone that sounded like Grandma's, and it just made my week!

Yesterday I was a little anxious and unsettled. I was nervous for transfer calls and the anticipation was nerve racking and I just wasn't at peace. Sister Sorensen had some dove chocolates, so she handed me one and guess what the wrapper said... "You are exactly where you are supposed to be." Coincidence? I think not :) I think we all need a little reminder and reassurance sometimes when we're doing what's right. Especially when what is right, is also hard. Because Satan also knows what is right. That is why he fights so hard against it. This is Christ's church and it is built upon His Gospel. It is true. It is right. And it is the only source to true joy and peace in this life and the next. I know it is true. Thank you for all the prayers and support. Have a great week!

Love and prayers, B