Sis. L. St. Onge in the Canada Toronto Mission

Another week in Paradise!

4 May 2018

Another week in Paradise!

My Sis. Kiara got home from her mission the 26th of April

Heyo everyone!

It has been a pretty nice week!

The weather has been pretty warm on and off, some over cast rainy days, but the rest were pretty nice. I DIDN'T WEAR LEGGINGS A FEW DAYS THIS WEEK! So excited for summer!

1.) Excerpt from Sister Smith's Email, because she is much more diligent at writing her weekly than I am...

District meeting on skype because we are so spread out

Did you know that the senior missionaries are actually super helpful at times even though we as younger missionaries almost never see them? This week we lost yet another investigator and Elder Anderson, who called us about something, on hearing our plight gave us a fifteen minute pep talk on the priesthood, women's roles and related trivia. It was super nice of him! Unfortunately Sister St. Onge and I still consumed a bucket of candy when we got back to the apartment which was very unfortunate.

Nonetheless, we're ok. But this area is swiftly approaching dead again.

I somewhat tell a lie. We did get another media referral for somebody. They didn't specify what they wanted when they made the request, and when we got down to see her she wanted a Bible, but in large print, so we'll have to order it in for her. She seems slightly interested and did agree to set up another appointment which is more than we usually get so that could be good. We also managed to fit the second lesson into our visit as well. She's a very sad, old lady, but hopefully we'll be able to help her out.

Elder Anderson was a willing therapist for us, but I have found myself in need of more. This week has been full of terrible traumatizing experiences. For one, our district leader played a very cruel prank on us! He told us he was bringing an investigator to district meeting and that we were to teach him the first three lessons. This is...not really something that happens during district meeting so we were a tad nervous. Well, we went, the investigator was there and each companionship taught one of the lessons. The last set of elders committed him to baptism and he said he'd certainly consider it. A few days later we got a text from Elder Timmins and Elder Lameroux saying they'd gotten special permission to baptize the man super quickly. We were all pretty excited...until someone from our zone said, "Wait, isn't that your guys' ward mission leader?"

Ha! I'd KNOWN he wasn't a real investigator! He'd said things that investigators don't really say. But Sister St. Onge was MAD. It was rather cruel of them I won't lie. It's a good thing for him that Elder Timmins is an excellent district leader.

The Elders got their ward mission leader to pretend he was an investigator. Fooled us!

2.) Elder M. Russell Ballard is coming to our mission this week! We have a meeting with him in Brampton so we are very excited for that! Best Birthday present ever for Sister Smith! I am so excited! So, you will get to hear all about that and transfer calls next week!

Love you all!

Quote: " Know that God sanctifies our most difficult days. " Fear thou not; for I am with thee," He peacefully reassures.

-BRIAN K. TAYLOR

Haha We scared the ducks

Bruce!!!

23 Apr. 2018

Bruce!!!! 😊

Craziness!

Heyo everyone!

rock that Bruce collected and gave me!

It has been a pretty exciting week!

The Lord knows how to work miracles in our lives!

Lake Rosseau on the drive to Sudbury

1.) So Saturday we had a baptism for some kids in our ward. We didn't find out until Wednesday... but we tried to help out to the best of our ability. Saturday morning we came to the church, to help top up the font so it was warm. Then they told us there was a leak in the font, so we had to keep it running right until they got in. The water was really cold.. like polar dip cold. So we started running water from the kitchen sink in pots, to the font to warm up the water, while it was draining. ( It was draining faster than we were filling it...) All while this was happening we had our investigator Bruce there, attending the baptism haha! He loved it so much! They finally reset the water temperature a little bit, before the baptism, but the water was ice cold. They left the hot water running while they were in there! Noah was baptized first, and looked like a statue going into the water. Then Anabelle was like; "Holy moly that was cold when she got out, but it was an amazing day! After the baptism, Bruce was like; "I hope that will be me soon. I want to get baptized!" We were like; That's what we are going to talk to you about today!" So we taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and Bruce is preparing to be baptized May 19th!!!!!!

Peter and Wes!

2.) We had district meeting in Sudbury this week also, and it was really Powerful! We only have live district meeting once a transfer, because we are all so spread out, but they are always amazing! We talked about repentance and virtue. Elder Timmins related it to the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's ( They are a group of people in the Book of Mormon who are Lamanites. - The wicked people, who become converted to the Lord, and don't want to be part of that wickedness anymore. At the time, they were warring against their brethren, but they don't want to do that anymore, they just want to serve God. So they change their names to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's and covenant or promise God, that they will bury their weapons of war and never fight again.) So we talked about things that we have done or never want to do, and how we can bury them. Then Elder Timmins gave us all paper swords and and we wrote something down on them, then we went outside and dug a hole. We all bore our testimonies on Repentance, and then we buried our weapons of war and covenanted with God to never take them up again. The Spirit was so strong and I know that the Savior is there to help us every step of the way. I challenge any of you, if you have things that need to be buried, that you take it outside and bury it!

Burying our Anti-Nephi-Lehi swords! Elder Payne standing beside me (Larry & Louise Flexhaug's grandson)

Peggy!

It has been a truly AMAZING week and I am excited for what this week brings! love you all!

Tell my sister; "Hey!!!" this week because she gets home from her mission!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it, it went so fast!

Quote:

"Don't let who you used to be hold you back from who you can become"

-AL CARRAWAY


So beautiful out! On way to Sudbury

our little friend!

Wet ice pellets hitting my face...

16 April 2018

Us walking in this crazy weather. You can't see it but we are soaked.

Wet ice pellets hitting my face...

Hey everyone!

It has been a week of miracles! and also some crazy weather!

1.) Yesterday we were leaving a member's house and we have been having crazy ice storms. So I was scraping off the thick ice that had accumulated in the windshield, and the drivers side windshield wiper cracked and fell off while I was scraping the passenger side... So we had to get a ride home and then walk over and got our car this morning. If you have never experienced freezing rain, it's like cold sand being wiped at your face in the wind. It is most definitely one of my favorite things... not!!! haha! But Spring is supposed to be on the way. All the snow that was gone, doesn't look like we lost any, we got so much this week! It has been fun. We have been saving on kilometers, so we have been walking a lot, and meeting a lot of great people!

2.) Last preparation day we dropped by some formers to see if we could come by and have a lesson. They were like; "Where have you been, do you want to come for dinner next week and share a message?" and we were like yeah, we do! So we are excited for that!

Sunset over Bracebridge

3.) We have been praying for a media referral for the last few weeks, and Wednesday night we got a text from Salt Lake, saying someone had requested a Book of Mormon and missionary visits! He is this super, sweet, old man who is probably close to 80, and his sister is investigating the church in Florida and is getting baptized in a few weeks. She told him about her experience, and he wanted to learn more. So we have now met with him 3 times, and it has been amazing. He is always so excited when we come.

Sis. Smith, made in the UK!

I hope spring comes to you wherever you are, and I hope you have an amazing week!

Quote:

In Moments of fear or doubt or troubling times. HOLD THE GROUND. you have already won even if that ground is limited.

-Jeffrey R. Holland

Spiritual High!

9 Apr. 2018

Spiritual High!

Best week ever!!!!!!!!!

We got to attend the Temple in Toronto this week. Sis Smith & me!

Hey how is everyone doing? I hear you are still all suffering in the snow... I am not jealous!

Just a little snow, by the PERRY sign. LOL

1.) Wednesday we went to the temple and it was so amazing. I think it was the best time I have ever been in the temple so far. The temple is definitely heaven sent and the Lord’s house! I am so grateful for the peace and joy it brings to my life!

2.) Elder S. Gifford Nielson of the seventy came to our Zone Conference, which was amazing!

I learned so much! In the afternoon they (The AP's) were like okay: “We are going to have people bare their testimonies now.” I thought, “Yeah there are a lot of departing missionaries this transfer.” Then Elder Ballard started calling names. He called my MTC companion, Sister Anderson, and I was like; “Oh man it's free game.” Then he called my name, I literally died on the inside my heart, it was racing so fast, then I had to walk up there and sit down. I had to bear my testimony in front of half of the mission and a General Authority... There were 14 of us, and we each had a minute. I was sitting up there, and I probably looked like a train wreck, or like I was going to pass out or something, because Elder Nielson winked at me. I have no idea what I said, and I think I was super awkward, but the spirit was really strong. As I went down, I shook his hand and I just started to cry for the rest of the meeting. It was super powerful. Also it was definitely inspired though, because it really just confirmed all the things that I have been learning and experienced this week!

3.) I had exchanges with the great Sister Hollyman! So much fun!

Miracles, we went and dropped by some formers and started knocking doors before our appointment, and every door we knocked on had either met the missionaries before, and some of them had met with them and been taught some. So we met a bunch of former investigators that we set appointments with. That was super sweet! We had a lesson with their new investigator and gave him a church tour. Then we just talked about the Book of Mormon a bit. He stayed up all night reading all of it, and he wants to come to church and bring his friend. Some people are more prepared than others, but that was really cool.

First Vision at the Church

Love you all have an amazing week!

Leilani

Say cheese!

Primary missionaries in our branch!

Trying out B&W

Elder Stephens my first and best District leader so far!

Last time I will see him!

Sister Skeen and I. Finally got to see her before she goes home!


a beautiful sunrise

Exchanges with the Holy- Orange

Quote:

"If you feel a little overwhelmed take that as a good sign. It indicates that you can sense the magnitude of trust God has placed in you."

Henry B. Eyring

Selfie with Sis. Smith & I

Happy Easter!

2 April 2018

A member gave us the biggest bag of Easter M&M's

Happy Easter!

Hey Everyone this week was a good week!

1.) We got to watch conference with some members and some less actives! So that was really good. It was a really amazing conference.

Toronto Temple!, I am stoked! I get to go to it this week!

2.) We got to sustain the new prophet of the church "President Russell M. Nelson!!!!!" and two new Apostles,

President Russell M. Nelson, our new Prophet of God!

Elder Gong-Gerrit- new apostle

Elder Soares-Ulisses New Apostle

Elder Gong-Gerrit and Elder Ulisses Soares!! It was really cool to listen to him and all the other speakers and to receive answers to my questions and hear their inspirational thoughts!

Sorry for such a short email not a whole lot happened. we have just been knocking doors! We talked to a lot of nice people though! I'll make it up with pictures!

Happy Easter! I am So beyond GRATEFUL for my Savior in my life and all that he has done for each one of us! It is the most heavenly gift we can ever have. HE IS RISEN!