Dec 19: Welcome to the Weekly Ep. 4 Leaving on a Jet Plane, and Bus Debocles

Hello hello ya'll!!

Said goodbye to my district after a superb last day with them! Evening ping pong is the best way to say goodbye... highly recommend! So thankful for that little family I had in the MTC! Love em so so many bunches!

I left the MTC eeeaaarlyyyy Tuesday morning and thankfully had an uneventful trip to Toronto. My mission president and his wife, President and Sister Stacey are the sweetest ever. The five sisters in my travel group (none of which I had met at the MTC beforehand) stayed at the mission home. I was put into the temporary Trio and slept on the floor because there are only 2 beds in each room. Bless! Haha

Wednesday met my trainer, Sister Hoy and traveled to Etobicoke, my first area! Together we whitewashed the 2 sisters who opened the area last transfer. So this week has been a lot of finding and contacting to get to know the area and some of the members. We have set up a few member lessons as well as some lessons with some other friends the previous sisters had found. 

Sister Hoy and I live in an apartment with another companionship, sister salmon and sister Burke, and I love em! We are having so much fun together. Also fun fact🙌 My district leader is President Eyring's grandson, Elder Eyring. Which is pretty cool, he hasn't been out very long this is his 4th transfer. I think a lot of the time members of the church assume that the family of the general authority leaders must be some divine, oober spiritual people. Elder Eyring is a great missionary, don't get me wrong... but he's also just a goofy 18 year old outta highschool. #humbled 

We don't have primary access to a car, so our main mode of transportation is bussing....

And oh my lanta let me tell ya bussing is an experience! When I lived in Victoria I bussed around all the time, but thus far bussing has proven to be another breed of transportation. 

Wednesday evening we were walking to our bus stop and this convoy of like 15 men dressed up in Santa suits walks by us...all so drunk and carrying glass glasses of their bevy of choice. But they were friendly and all wished us a merry Christmas. It was a very wet and snowy evening and as we were walking, a bus zooms by and splashes slush all over us. BUT none got in my book so in my book thats a win:)

There is quite a bit of construction happening in the area. On thursday evening we were street contacting/making our way to a bus stop and googke had us going all over the place. Well we ended up walking through a super muddy, super sketchy construction zone and finally made it to the stop...... only for Sister Hoy's phone to die and my maps not to work. So there we stood hoping that the bus would come, AND I KID YOU NOT as soon as I ended my prayer the bus pulled up! BLESSINGS!!!

Last bus debocle of the week. Sister Hoy and I were waiting for our bus Saturday evening and when it came it didn't stop..... just zoomed right on by😑👎. So we walked another 25 minutes to a different stop along the way and finally got on a bus. 

Also it should be noted that bus 80 is super inefficient, always delayed and wastes much time.

All in all I am safe and bussing has provided many a comical story.

Yesterday Sister Hoy and I had a member lesson woth Bro. and Sis. Murphy. Bro. Murphy is from Cardston, so he started quizzing me on my family when I told him I was from Milk River. He proceeded to leave and bring back a massive stack of history books from cardston and Kimball and Glenwood so that I could find all my family and show him. It was so sweet. I found Grant and Ellen Paxman, and Garth and Jean Forsyth. Along with Neil Snow Forsyth and Ezra Love Paxman. And pictures!! It was so cool and so precious to be here in Toronto, looking at pictures of my family in a book from many many kilometers away!

The Etobicoke ward is wonderful! Full of friendly members and faith. How grateful I am to have met some of the members. I look forward to meeting many more!

Welp, koodos to you if ya read all that, but if ya didn't that's ok. This is the important part. I love this area, I love the people I've met, I love the gospel of Christ, and thus far I love sharing it to the Lord's children in this corner of the world!

Love ya all many bunches! Go give em Heaven!!

Love,

Sister Court 

Dec 10, 2022: Welcome to the Weekly Ep. 3 The Saving Grace of Personal Study, Teaching Through the Spirit, Ministering Angels, and Whatsabucket

Hello hello!

Tis the last week at the MTC for me!

I gotta ⚠️be real⚠️ with y'all for 7 seconds. Sleeping this week was hard! I just kept tossing and turning and waking up off and on throughout. Which is strange to me because the first handful of nights I slept so good! Anywho, mornings have been tad bit of a struggle, hard to get up, hard to get going. But you win some, you learn some, I suppose. So let me tell ya what I learned...

I think Monday was the hardest of the mornings this week. When Sister Davis and I woke up to go to the gym, it was snowing. Sister Davis is from Arizona and has never seen snow falling from the sky before. So that was such a precious moment to watch her dance in the snow and catch the flakes with her tongue. Bless her heart♡. But the rest of the morning honestly just blew chunks.... UNTIL.... Sister Davis and I sat down and did our personal study!! And suddenly my day felt 110% better. So may I suggest that if your day is blowing chunks to take a minute or two to read your scriptures! The word of God is a sure fire way to feel happier! This principle rang true throughout the rest of my week! Oh my Lanta thank the Lord for personal study and scriptures!

Okey dokey let us reverse to Sunday...What a blessing fast Sunday is! Sister Davis and I decided that together we would fast for district unity and for our district leader, to be a blessing for our district. We have seen the fruits of this fast all throughout this week! BLESSINGS!! 

In Relief Society Sister Davis and I led a short discussion about what lifting up the cross means to us sisters as missionaries. We were completely led by the spirit in what we shared. And it was exactly what the sisters in our branch needed. Some sisters shared about the worry they had for their families as they were away. Well this is something I relate to... Tansley Kaye, my dear sister is graduating this year. She is in the middle of her last basketball season. It has been hard for her and for me to think about the things that growing up we had always imagined I'd be around for that I won't be because I'm serving the Lord on a mission. So I shared with them a little something that one of my MTC teachers told me.... as I am out here representing Christ to His children, Christ is filling in my places in the lives of those I love at home. He is there to be their best friend, cheer leader, and support. As a relief society we sat together and shared small vulnerable moments with eachother. VULNERABILITY+EMPATHY=CONNECTION This is such a beautiful place to feel the spirit and sit with one another and Christ. 

What a cool experience it was to have a fast and testimony meeting while at the MTC. One of the Elders in my district bore the most beautiful testimony that touched my heart. He shared the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. That he knew that the little faith of an 18 year old straight outta high-school was enough for Christ to make miracles happen through him. Oh my Lanta, Elder Atuaia what faith you have, and what a strong testimony that I admire!

On Tuesday Sister Davis and I had the opportunity to participate in the MTC choir for the evening devotional woth Elder Godoy of the 70. What a Heavenly and magical experience to have! I'm not a singer, but to be a part of such a large body of Christ, singing testimony of His grand existence was absolutely glorious, its impossible not to sound like angels. 

At this devotional elder Godoy spoke about how there are angels called to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the Veil. That angels on the other side were praying for his conversion in this earth life so that he could do the temple work for his ancestors. Its all one work! Its His work! And it is an angelic work! I love love love this! In my personal study this week, I studied this out. And Alma 13: 22, 24-25 expresses this idea in the exact way I feel it!

22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

 25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.

How blessed I am to be numbered among one of Christ's angels. How blessed I am to be in this district of 10 angels who have taught me so much and brought me closer to Christ. I am forever grateful to have witnessed the ministering of angels in this unique and miraculous way! 

Lastly, let's just day that district gym time is the bomb, and should be taken advantage of!! Playing volleyball and bump all week has been an absolute blast..... even if I lose to cocky and competative elder whatsabucket (another elder from another district who sister Court gets a little competitive with) every now and then 😑👎.

Alrighty, love ya all many bunches!! Go give em heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Dec 3, 2022: Welcome to the Weekly Ep. 2 ROADTRIP!!, Jesus Physics, Prayers to my Best Friend, and Canadian English

Hello hello!

Hope yall enjoyed last week's pilot episode! And I hope yall are ready for episode 2!! 

After saying goodbye to the sibs and enduring an ugly cry session sister sister, Tansley Kaye, Mama and papa bear and I headed out on our pre-MTC roadie to Salt Lake City. The stretch of the world through Montana into Idaho is super oober pretty with a snowy foothill, rocky landscape. Eeek God's world is so pretty. We took a pitstop in Helena to go see the Helena Montana Temple construction sight. How glorious it was to see the Lord's work being built and brought to pass before my very eyes! BLESSINGS!

We arrived in Salt Lake City at my uncle Scott and aunt Terry's mid evening, and had such a fun time catching Terry up on all the happenings. Oh my lanta, uncle Scott is a carbon Copy of my Grandpa Rex! It had me chuckling quite a bit. Scott came and sat right down beside me, pulled out his computer, put his glasses on the end of his nose, and began to show me all sorts of pictures and stories from when my great grandparents met through the years that my grandpa grew up..... just like grandpa Rex does! The next morning I woke up to the smell of pancakes and could have sworn I was at Rex and Bet's! And to top it all off Scott insisted that we pose for a picture and proceeded to close windows and flip switches to get the lighting just right. I don't think I've ever seen a more grandpa Rex thing from someone who wasn't Rex! 

The MTC is everything I wanted it to be and nothing like I expected it to be! And I'm loving it! It's so great to be with my companion Sister Davis and the rest of our district in person! It is such a unique and blessed feeling to be in a place where everyone is learning about the gospel and striving to get closer to Christ! BLESS! Every day is so jam packed and I'm soaking it all up, it feels so good to be learning!! And studying!! I thrive in that environment, and I missed that this fall, not being back at university. Of course this is learning that I'm receiving in large doses and accelerating in because of the spirit that is present. It's a much different feeling than studying for university classes. I just feel crazy excited every day to know more, to share more! BLESS BLESS BLESS! 

On that note I gotta tell yall about the physics of Jesus!! *refer to the pretty little diagram in the pics* I was learning about the fall of Adam in one of my classes and my teacher sister Orton said that because Adam and Eve chose to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil we all fell. But we needed to fall to be able to gain a body, and move forward and progress in this earthly life. 

Okey dokey, this is where sister court's brain gets all nerdy. Are you ready for the crazy physics?? I know you are, because it's so good! Alrighty, here we go.... picture this: a ball starts at one point on top a hill accross from the other side, which in order to get on top of has to exceed a much higher point than where it currently is. When it gets pushed and rolls down the hill it won't have enough momentum to exceed its origional height going up the other side of the hill. In order for that ball to get to the top on the other side, there must be an external force acting on it to give it enough energy to make it to the top. 

Get this! You are the ball, I am the ball, we are all the ball! Because of the fall, we have rolled down the hill and are making our way up the other side as we live through this earthly experience. But we have not gained enough spiritual momentum just from the Fall to make it back to Heavenly Father. So how on earth are we supposed to exceed the height we started at before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit?! We are imperfect! We make mistakes! We shouldn't be able to keep going up! There is no earthly way that we can make it by ourselves, and yet we can! How!? Oh my lanta do I have a spoiler for you!!! 

It's because of our savior Jesus Christ. He is the external force we need to get to the top of the other side! To get back to our Father in Heaven! It is because of His atonement that we can come unto Him and  overcome all of our sins and keep gaining the spiritual momentum we need to exceed this earthly experience, learn from that earthly experience and keep on rolling up the hill! When we claim the power of the atonement in our lives with faith in Christ we can defy the laws of physics!! And my dear people that thought excites me a great deal if you couldn't tell. 

In another class we were discussing having meaningful prayer experiences and Elder Isom shared a thought that I love that I want to share with you! He said that when he was struggling, really having a hard time someone reminded him that christ was there for him always like a best friend. So Elder Isom started closing his prayer saying in the name of Jesus Christ, my best friend, amen. And it made his prayer feel so much more personal and I love that so so much. So I invite you all this week as you pray to make it personal! Heavenly Father loves you so much that he gave you His son to be your very best friend! 

We played volleyball and bump (which apparently is called lightning by literally everyone in the states) as a district this week. Sister Davis is so cute, she's not into the sportsing thing but she tries and loves to just be there to watch. She says I take on this alternate sister Court personality when I put my shorts on and toss my hair up, and I just look so hyped and in my element it's almost comical to her because she has only ever seen me as a sister missionary. 

The elders have started quizzing me on how I say words because it has suddenly clicked that I'm Canadian and they heard me say sorry. Apparently I say it funny. "So-rry" instead of "saw-ry". And now they have it in their heads that Canadians talk funny and don't actually speak English. It's an entertaining time for sure.

Oh my lanta that was a long one today! A double feature if you will. 

I'll let ya stop reading for now but tune in next week, it's bound to be a gooder!

Alrighty love ya all many bunches! Give em Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court

Nov 26, 2022: Welcome to the Weekly. The Pilot Episode

Hello hello!

What a week it has been! A wonderful and busy week! And I love it!

I think I would just like to begin by bearing my testimony to you all of the Book of Mormon. I know this book to be true. I have been blessed in my life to experience so much joy as I feast upon His word as well as so much peace as I find myself and Christ in the Book of Mormon.

 Mosiah 15: 16,18 

16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!

18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people.

I know that this book publishes the peace, joy, happiness, and salvation that is found in my savior and brother Jesus Christ. How grateful I am to have the chance to publish peace and joy, to invite others come unto Christ, and help them on their mountainous journey to salvation. 

I have been blessed with the most amazing MTC district and companion! District 10-M is where it's at! My companion, Sister Davis is an absolute angel, and her and I have such insightful companion studies every morning! BLESSINGS! Classes with this group of missionaries hasn't failed to leave daily spiritual impressions on me. MORE BLESSINGS!

In one of my classes this week we talked about conversion time lines, and were invited to record a few events on our own conversion time lines. We then had the opportunity to share one of these events with each other. We had a great experience sharing a tidbit of our stories with everyone. At the end after we had all shared, Elder Purser, a member of my district piped up and expressed his gratitude for the things we had all shared because he now had another event to add to his conversion time line! Oh my Lanta, AMEN AND SAME! Because of this group of wonderful missionaries and the spirit present, I have another event to add to my conversion time line! I think it is so cool that each of us are on our own unique journeys to conversion and when we share our testimonies and experiences with others we may be helping them along theirs!

With that I would like to share an event from my very own conversion time line, and it happens to be the very first one that I can remember. 

When I was maybe 6 years old, I remember sitting in a fast and testimony meeting in Coutts. Brother Verl Fyfe got up and shared his testimony, of what I can't remember, but as he did so he began to cry, and little 6 year old Kathryn did too. Not knowing why Bro. Fyfe was crying or why I was feeling such big things all of a sudden, I asked my mama bear to help me understand. She explained that Bro. Fyfe was feeling the spirit because he knew that the things he was saying were true and that he loved the gospel, and that i too was experiencing a witness of the spirit because in my heart I also knew them to be true. That stuck with me for a whole month, because at the next testimony meeting, little Kathryn Court felt all the big feelings again. With all the courage that a 6 year old can muster, I walked up to the pulpit and bore a simple testimony of my love of the gospel and Christ to the extent that a young brain understood. As I sat down the same man that a month ago had moved me so, stood up and bore his testimony on the faith of children. 

I STILL LOVE THIS GOSPEL!

Thursday was American Thanksgiving and the MTC didn't hold any classes to allow for at home MTC missionaries to spend time with their families. Well I am obviously not American, and I don't live in the states so Thursday was just a regular day for my family with kids at school and people at work. It felt a little weird not to have a schedule of things to do all day. But I did have the opportunity to help my companion, mama Mando, the hot lunch lady with hot lunch at the school! So that was fun, and it was nice to get out of the house for a little bit. Mama bear and I ventured out on a short drive Thursday evening to chase a sunset, and oh my Lanta it was glorious!

I'm so excited to be at the MTC in person mid next week, but am so grateful for the chance to share this experience with my family! 

Ok yall, I think that's everything from me this week! Love ya all many bunches! Go give 'em heaven!

Love, 

Sister Court

A sketchy dream come true

A long time ago, there was a girl who fancied herself as an artist. She had taken an art class and discovered she had a bit of a knack for pencil sketches. So she began looking for things she'd like to draw. One day while with a certain young man, who loved to take road trips to the middle of nowhere, they happened upon this spectacular view. As they came over a hill, there laid before them was a beautiful valley of golden prairie grass, a train track running through the middle of it and a magnificent old red grain elevator. The sky was an impossible blue that made the scene even more fantastic. The girl's first thought was that she would love to draw this scene. But alas, she had not her paper and pencils and no camera to take a picture(this was in a day long before the convenience of cell phone cameras). She decided that she'd have to come back some day to this valley, with a grain elevator that bore the name McNab.
Years passed, but she never returned, though she never forgot that magical place. The girl married the young man, and began a life together moving from place to place until settling down in a quiet little town. One day while out on a road trip to the middle of nowhere with the man of her dreams, she once again happened upon a this beautiful valley, but there was something sadly missing. The majestic old grain elevator was no more. The girl was devastated. She had remembered how she had wanted to draw this beautiful scene, and though she hadn't drawn in years, her heart ached a bit, that she would never be able to draw this once magnificent scene.
Years passed, and the girl was inspired to pick up her pencils and get out her sketchbook and draw once more. But what should she draw? Where would she begin? As the girl pondered on this, while not sleeping late at night, she remembered how she loved the grain elevator named McNab, and so she did a Google search and low and behold before her eyes lay beautiful picture after beautiful picture of this beloved place. At last she would draw this scene of her prairie dreams.

Drawing done with just an HB pencil because I couldn't locate my pencils that I had given to Kathryn. Someday I'll do it in colour...when I get a little braver. 

A birthday poem

It's All That

When I grow up,
I'll be like the way you are.
Look at the world through a mama's eyes,
Smile at it with that charm.
I'll hug my husband close,
And cuddle my children closer.

Ain't that what it is?
A mother's love,
Starting at home,
Spreading through the world,
On a glimmer of hope.
And I know it's not easy.
I'm sorry for that.
A mother's love,
Is all that.

I'll hear my kids calling mama,
Repeatedly until I watch.
Drive myself crazy,
Looking for a silly pen,
That sat in front of me,
For hours on end.

Ain't that what it is?
A mother's love,
Starting at home,
Spreading through the world,
On a glimmer of hope.
And I know it's not easy,
I'm sorry for that.
A mother's love,
Is all that.

Just like you,
I'll have to learn as I go.
Growing from my mistakes,
While I help my kids grow.
I'll listen to their problems and pains.
They will ramble on and on,
About the crushes they've gained.

Ain't that what it is?
A mother's love,
Starting at home,
Spreading through the world,
On a glimmer of hope.
And I know it's not easy,
I'm sorry for that.
A mother's love,
Is all that.

And when my kids are all grown up,
I'll still look through a mama's eyes,
And smile with that charm.
I'll keep my family close,
And watch the home videos.
Still drive myself crazy,
Trying to find a silly pen.
I'll forever be growing,
And always be listening.

Ain't that what it is?
A mother's love,
Starting at home,
Spreading through the world,
On a glimmer of hope.
And I know it's not easy,
I'm sorry for that.

A mother's love,
Is all that.

By Kathryn Court.

How did I get here?

Tonight, Kathryn put the too youngest to bed, but this made Ella mad. She requested that I come cuddle with her. So when I was finished what I was doing I headed down stairs for a cuddle. The bottom bunk is a queen sized bed so James slid over next to the wall and I laid down next to him and then Ella curled up next to me. James wrapped his arm around me and found my hand to hold, Ella wrapped her arms around my other arm and held it to her like it was her favourite teddy bear. James was asleep with in minutes, Ella was having a hard time falling asleep...she had had a late afternoon nap on the floor in the living room. So we all just laid there like that. I listened to their soft breath slow, and wondered, how did I get here? Oh, not it a bad way, I mean, how did I get to be 40 and the mother of these 5 beautiful children? How is it that so much time has passed? How is it that life is so very good? How am I so blessed to have this amazing life?
Don't get me wrong, life isn't always easy, and these kids of mine are far from perfect. The older two can go at each other like the bitterest of enemies, and then banned together and turn on me like I am the evil step mother seeking to destroy their lives. The middle one, though she doesn't yet treat me like an evil stepmother, her lackadaisical attitude can be exhausting. Trying to get that girl to do anything, can at times drive one over the edge. The boy has learned to throw a pretty nasty tantrum and he has taken up punching his sisters when they make him mad. And that three year old...soon to be four year old, well she has quite the stubborn streak. She wants what she wants, when she wants it, how she wants it, and she wanted it 10 minutes ago. And it doesn't matter how impossible the request, if I can't grant it, there will be hell to pay. But through all of that, there are these amazing moments that wash all of that bitterness and hurt away. These moments where their laugh ripples through the air and all is right in the world. Or that twinkle in the boys eyes when he is up to something. Or that silly little look that Ella gives when she's got something funny to say. Or the sweet card that I find on my pillow that Kymberly has created. Or the heartfelt apology notes tucked sweetly away for me to find long after kids are in bed, written by one of my oldest. Or like tonight, the moments of cuddles where I feel like the most loved person in all the world. I am certain, that if I had enough sides,even my oldest two would join in a great big cuddle till we all fell asleep.
I have this saying on my wall that says "life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful", and I believe it could also read "kids don't have to be perfect to be wonderful". Either way I believe the statement sums up what make this momma so happy.

PS I think my hubby is pretty amazing too, 15 years in and he still makes me giddy...But that shall be a post for another day :)