Oct 18 2023: Welcome to the Weekly Season 8 Ep. 2 one thousand thirty four souls

 

Hello! Hello!

I just want to bear my testimony on the spirit of revelation that is promised each of us when we are humble and faithfully seek answers from God by diligently counseling with Him. 

This past week all the leaders in the mission gathered for Mission Leadership Council (MLC) to discuss and come up with a goal for the number of beautiful souls God had prepared to be baptized in the year 2024. But before that goal could be made, we needed to be prepared to receive guidance and revelation from God himself on that goal. These are His children after all. 

There is a pattern for receiving revelation that I invite you to follow should you be seeking answers to any question!

1. Be humble 

Mosiah 2:25

And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.

Know whose throne you are coming to when you are seeking answers/revelation.

2. Have faith

Trust in God and His plan! Be willing to take reasonable risks! Our faith needs to outweigh our logic. 

Moroni 7:41

And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

Have hope in the promise! With faith in the promised blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, even the unlogical doesn't seem out of reach! Jesus Christ is greater than logic. 

3. Pray and Counsel

Alma 5:46

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

We have to talk to God! Not just once! Alma prayed for many days! Pray, listen, then pray again! Council with God like you would if you were looking for advice from your dad or your best friend. 

4. Ponder 

Listen to the whispering of the spirit, pay attention to the feelings that you feel...

3 Nephi 17:3

Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow.

Moroni 10:3-4

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Then pray again, counsel and ponder. Be patient and trust that you will receive revelation for what ever it is you are in need of. God will never leave you with nothing. I know that! I cam promise you that!

I received revelation this week. And so did every other missionary at MLC. We followed this pattern and counseled together for a very long time. We finally came to the goal of 1034 children of God baptized in the year 2024, and when we sustained it, I received a witness of that same spirit testify to me that God knew each and every one of those people, and at a time much before this one, when we lived with Heavenly Father, I knew them too. And I promised them that my friends and I would find them here when we came to Ontario. I'm so excited to keep meeting them in this life this year, and the time that I will have in the next year. And I know that I will see them and meet them again in the next life. 

How grateful I am for this knowledge and this faith. I invite you to seek revelation from your loving Heavenly Father through the spirit that he has promised to you. I know He will lead you in all things. 

I love you all many bunches! Go give the world Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Weekly fridge phrases!

♡Christ is always there to give us a hug. -elder jensen

♡humility is confidence in God -elder Randall

♡skills without discipleship is just salesmanship -brother mills

♡on the Lord's errand -D&C 64:29

Oct 11: Welcome to the Weekly Season 8 Ep. 1 Forty Days and Blessed

 

Hello! Hello!

I hope you all had a blessed and grateful thanksgiving! 

At transfers I saw my daughter Sister Waldron! And that was THE happiest reunion ever!! Her and her trainee, sister Lawrence(my granddaughter), are KILLING IT in Mississauga. See pic 

It is now fall in the 6ix and it is chilly! But I love fall weather, so I'm thriving! Sister Wang who is from Taiwan is freezing though!

I am so blessed to be companions with Sister Wang. She is the most Christlike person I have ever met. When we go out to talk to people or are traveling to & from places, she sees everyone. In the 10 minute walk to the library we talk to so many people! There have been a couple times that I catch myself with my head down staring at my feet & when I look up, Sister Wang is talking to another new person. She helps me keep my head up, she helps me see even more of God's children. 

Our friend Hibiki, is one of my favorite people ever! He is so excited to learn about the gospel which makes me excited to learn about the gospel. He said a prayer the other day for the first time with us & he thanked Heavenly Father for the true church, & for his best friends for teaching him. He is reading the Book of Mormon in English & Japanese (his 1st language) side by side so he can understand better. We have taught him almost everything & have had Japanese speaking Elders in our mission join a lesson to teach in Japanese. Hibiki is so prepared to accept Jesus Christ into his life, but he is fearful of being baptized because he comes from a background where religion is a forced thing & that's all he has known. 

As I've been studying for Hibiki, and how we can help him keep learning, it occurred to me that we ask our friends to do a lot to show their faith. We ask them to come tk church, read the scriptures, give up old habits, and be baptized-that's a big thing! It only seems fitting that I as a missionary would need to do just as much to show my faith. So I've been thinking about something I can do to show my faith more. 

In Matthew chapter 4 in the New Testament, Jesus fasts for 40 days AND THEN begins His ministry. The idea of a 40 day fast has been on my mind. So I will be doing a 40 day fast for Hibiki and for the spirit to help us know how to help him keep progressing. Not a fast of food or drink, a fast from another something that I enjoy. 

In Preach My Gospel chapter 8, it talks about how we can set goals to support our friends' progress and part of that is by having "Faith in Jesus Christ on their behalf" and I believe that is what a 40 day fast will help me do! It will help me grow my faith in Christ and show my faith in Christ. In return the spirit of revelation that is promised to every single child of God, will direct and inspire ways for us to help Hibiki, who is new to Christianity and very new on his journey to increase his faith. 

We cannot give a portion of our faith to our friends, but we can share the light and the spirit that our faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ brings into the world. 

If you have something that is weighing on your mind, a prayer you feel is unanswered, I invite you to fast and pray. Maybe it's for 40 days from something you enjoy, maybe it's from food for a day. But whatever it is and however you do it, do it with Heavenly Father by expressing your desires and thoughts in mighty prayer. I promise that as you show your faith, God will answer, He will provide, He will lift, He will strengthen, and He will guide. 

I love you all many bunches! Go give the world so much Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Weekly fridge phrases!!

♡continually consider the operation of His hands. -2 Nephi 15:12

♡stay on your knees until your casual prayer becomes mighty -Sister Tamara W. Runia

♡"don't you be shy!" -pres. Nelson to pres. Stacey

♡Jesus has enough grace to go around -sister steel

♡the most important number is the one -sister taupo 

♡what would Jesus see (wwjs) -sister taupo

♡"and when I forget to remember Him, He is still there" -Elder Joaquin Costa

Oct 5: Welcome to the Weekly Seasok 7 Ep. 6 6 more in the 6ix

 Hello! Hello!

Transfers are this week, and sister Murri and I will be splitting up:( I'm going to miss her. She has been such a blessing. Her light and example have taught me so much. I will be staying in the Toronto YSA ward and my new companion will be Sister Wang! Oh how I love her! We came out together, and we've served around eachother before. I'm so excited for the new transfer. Happy and sad at the same time :)(

I think this week I just want to share my testimony that I know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ blesses and changes lives. 

We had another lesson with our friends Jeffrey this past week. We had a member join us and we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how the atonement enables us to over come spiritual death caused by our mistakes as well as physical death caused by mortality. At the end of our lesson we had a little mini impromptu testimony meeting. Sister Murri and I each bore our testimonies and the member with us bore hers and we closed the lesson.

And then Jeffrey said, "yes, amen, umm I would like to say something." And told us his testimony of how his life has been changed and blessed since he met us, and that he knows it's from God and because he is following God's path. It was so so sweet. 

I was really touched by Elder Stevensens talk during conference about seeking the gift of the Holy Ghost by standing in Holy Places with Holy people. And it is so cool to watch Jeffrey seek the Holy Ghost as he continues to meet with us and learn about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is standing in Holy places and he is putting himself in opportunities to stand with Holy people. 

I just want to invite you all to think about a way that you can be a more Holy person for the people around you to stand by. And when I say Holy I don't mean preachy, or always being in church or reading your scriptures. But how can you be someone that other people can feel uplifted by? 

I love you all many bunches! Keep standing strong and tall. Go give em so much Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Sept 27: Welcome to the Weekly Season 7 Ep. 5- All our ducks (from Nigeria) in a row 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

Hello! Hello! 

A lot happened this week so put your blue light glasses on, you're gonna be here a while🤓

First of all I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time since going on a mission. This time through I was focusing on the attributes of Jesus Christ that are found on every page of this book. I know that this book is true. I know that it testifies of who Jesus Christ is. I have become more aware of the attributes of Jesus Christ in the people I meet and serve with as well as in myself. I know that there are gifts that need to be developed so that I can continue to become like Jesus Christ. I know that because I have made covenants and have faith in Jesus Christ that those attributes will be developed when it is expedient for them to be. The Book of Mormon testifies to me every answer to every question that I have ever had regarding my path and personal development. It's true! All of it!

This week was crazy in all the best jaw dropping, shook, inconceivable how good God is ways. Sunday was magical, God just kept bringing friends! We get to the church and the time comes to get started but no one is there, not even the members. BUT HAVE FAITH! The day is young, God is good, and YSA are always late. So we get started with Sunday school and the miracles began. Our friend Jeffrey from Nigeria texted us to et us know he was there so we went out to greet him; it turns out that one of his classmates is a member. They were shocked to see eachother @ the church & spent the whole time together! Our member even gave him a ride home. Blessings! We hadn't even sat back down before our other friend Sam (also from Nigeria) was calling because he too has just arrived. We go out to great him AND HE BROUGHT A FRIEND (again from Nigeria). 

BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE!

Sacrament meeting starts and our other friend Precious (from nigeria too) calls b/c he is also here, so we go gather him AND HE BROUGHT A FRIEND TOO (you guessed it, from Nigeria). So on the back pew sat sis murri and I and all our new Nigerian friends! It was a sight to behold.

BUT THE MIRACLES DON'T CEASE 

4 of our recent converts came! 1 passed the sacrament for the 1st time, another blessed the sacrament for the 1st time and another bore her testimony for the first time. And testimony meeting was breathtaking! Everyone bore their testimony on following the promptings of the holy ghost and the impact their baptism and confirmation has had on their life. It was the perfect meeting to have all of our friends at!

BUT WAIT! THERES MORE!

After sacrament meeting, we waste no time. Precious & his friend take off, Sister murri is chasing them down, dodging members like its an olympuc sport. Mean while I'm talking to Sam's friend Adams and he accepts a baptismal date for Oct 21! And commits himself to meeting with us. "I think it's probably really important that I learn more so I can understand the importance of being baptized." AMEN! Sis Murri almost didn't catch Precious, but by yet another miracle they came back to use the Washroom & she was able to get Precious' friend, Paul's #, and set up a lesson with them for Tuesday AMEN!

And thus concludes the Sunday miracles. 

BUT GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES EVERYDAY NOT JUST SUNDAY!

Tuesday evening comes and we are at our lesson with the member who is joining us waiting. They are late but assure us that they are coming. Then we see them WITH 2 OTHER FRIENDS (more from nigeria)! We start the lesson, which is a little chaotic, these boys are kinda all over the place, but Precious is all in. Then midlesson someone calls Precious & 3 MORE PEOPLE JOIN OUR TABLE (oh my lanta, more from Nigeria!) There were too many people for us to keep them all on task, so we extended an invitation for all of them to join us at General Conference (y'all should watch too btw!) and got the numbers of Lucky and Success, who, like Precious, are all in, you can see it on their faces. We only had 2 Book of Mormons with us. But everyone wanted one. So out to the car we go with a posse of Nigerian friends to hand out the Book of Mormon in the dark and jenky parking lot. Passers by probably didn't know what to think. We teach them about how amazing and true the book is. They are coming to Conference this weekend. And bith Lucky and Success have been looking for a church to go to sonce they moved to Canada and want to know the address PRONTO. Paul assured them that he would bring them. 

That was the craziest time of my life, let alone my mission!! God is so good, and I love these people! 

It's so cool to me to see how God is in the tiniest details of not only my life but the lives of our friends. I have a front row seat to watching it happen. I've especially seen it in the life of our friend Jeffrey who is preparing for baptism. Last week at a lesson we had with him he saw my WWJD bracelet and asked about it. So we told him what it stood for and he asked where he could get one, and I had one in my bag that has been there since my DL gave everyone in the district one forever ago! And then he finds out that one of his classmates is a member!! And now they are good friends! And then as if that wasn't enough, the last two lessons we have had with Jeffrey have been at a park called Hand of God park. Like come on, God is really all around. 

In the life of our other friend, who we just had to pass off to another set of missionaries, you would not believe what he told us after he accepted the invitation to be baptized. He told us that the day we met him on the street the song that he was listening to on his phone was Be Thou My Vision sung by the Tabernacle Choir. Are you kidding?!?! Could you imagine listening to the tabernacle choir as a nonmember and then 2 random people walk up to you from that same church and invite you to learn more?? I would never ever again doubt that God is real and knows who I am and where I am. His hand is ALL AROUND! 

You can find it! I promise! Please go looking for it! You'll find that His hand is holding it all together! 

I love you all many many bunches! Go give the world so much Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Weekly fridge phrases!!

♡pray with a smile -elder Mackey

♡He has given Jesus Christ to all these people -Sister Pearson

♡God cares about YOU, not the story -Hermana Pettit

♡remember Him more! -sister Matthews

Sept 20: Welcome to the Weekly Season 7 Ep. 4 (fr) stumble trip stumble trip.... it's a..... #HAULER

Hello! Hello!

Oh do I have stories for you!

On Tuesday last week we had had quite the long day. Nothing went according to plan, we spent a lot of time on the subway traveling to lessons that didn't go through, & no one on the subways were giving us the time of day. We were finally at the end of our day, just one lesson to go, with a member who was going to feed us, which never happens in ysa so we were praying so hard that this would go through, because we had just been on a bus for an hour! 

We were walking to this members house from the bus stop, behind a random No Frills on a kinda sketch construction detour path & we stumble across Jeffrey! Quite literally, I'm a clutz and tripped over something... a rock perhaps... but probably just my own feet... I have a trip count everyday and this day it was particularly high. Anywho... JEFFREY! New to Canada from Nigeria, going to school, & knows no one. But he's interested in coming to activities & church & meeting again, so we got his number and then went on our way. Blessings! 

Fast forward to Friday INSTITUTE class. Jeffrey comes! And stays for the activity after even though we had to leave before it ended. Amen Jeffrey! Make those friends! He didn't come to church on Sunday though, neither did any of the other 7 friends that confirmed to come, nor did any of our recent converts. It was a tough reality. The elders in our ward however! Had a great Sunday! Friends at church AND a baptism! It was a wonderful service to be part of! But Sis Murri & I were still feeling disappointed. So we called all our friends that evening. 

We get to Jeffrey, call him, no answer. BUT HE CALLS BACK! And we teach him all about the gospel of Jesus Christ, our purpose as missionaries, share 2 Nephi 31 with him & he says "I want to be like Jesus." So I invited him to be baptized & he said "of course!" At the end of the call he said he was so excited! Oh my lanta! So are we! So is God! 

We had a lesson on Monday that he bussed an hour to! He told us he was happy to do it, and that he was so grateful that we stopped and talked to him that night because no one does that here, and he has missed the friendly faces from home. He also told us he goes to the gym to avoid sin, and in everything he does he pictures God with him. He saw my What Would Jesus Do bracelet (WWJD) and asked what it meant and where he could get one. AND I HAD ONE IN MY BAG THATS BEEN THERE FOR MONTHS! I don't know why I've kept it in there since I got it from another missionary five ever ago, BUT now I do!! It was such a simple little tender mercy! Jeffrey put it on right away and said he was going to wear it everyday! He's literally so tender. 

 We taught about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ & he loved the first vision, b/c he felt that he was a son of God, and that God knew who he was just like God and Jesus Christ knew Joseph Smith. Oh my heart. We skipped the entire way back to our bus stop!! God has people who are prepared and he places them in our path daily! Even the sketchy ones behind a No Frills! #HAULER

I have such a solid testimony of God's hand. There are so many instances in this story big and small where God's hand is so perfectly there. Down to the bracelet. 

I invite you all to look for God's hand in your life. I promise you that Jesus Christ is walking with you every little step of the way. Every stumble, every trip, stomp, skip, Jesus Christ has stepped them all, because a Father in Heaven who loves you sent him to do so, and Jesus did do so, willingly, for you! So that God's hand could be in your life ALL THE TIME! 

I love you all many bunches! Go give them so much heaven!

Love,

Sister Court 

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!

♡practice like the cheerleaders are watching -president Stacey

♡only God and me know if I'm being the best me I can be -president stacey

♡we are in His hand no matter what is happening -Kirandeep

Sept 13 : Welcome to the Weekly Season 7 Ep 4 Sister Frazzle Starts Fresh because guess what!? HE FOUND IT!

 Hello! Hello! 

First of all, Mama Bears and little sisters always have the best things to say when you call them to tell them about your crazy week. 10/10 recommend giving them a call when you feel a little all over the place. 

Last week when I called my mom she said, "Don't be frazzled, breathe." So that's what I did, I breathed and let the week do its thing, while I did my best to follow the promptings of the spirit. But by Sunday this Sister was still feeling frazzled. When I tell you that Sundays are my favourite day as a missionary, I'm not joshing. They are my absolute favourite! 

5 of our friends came to church! 2 of which, have come before but we haven't been able to teach because during the week they ghost us, but they came again! And we set up lessons with both of them! Another friend who came we actually met in the subway while doing missionary work with some members in our ward who are preparing to serve missions. Our member was so shocked to see him at church, "they ACTUALLY come when they say!?!?" Sadly no.... but it was a cool moment for her! We've been doing a lot with the members preparing to serve missions and it is so cool to see them talk to people about Jesus Christ so naturally as they bear testimony, and get excited when we are able to get their number. 

Our friend Hibiki also came to church! He has been coming consistently, and he comes to every activity. He busses an hour every time he comes. He is from Japan and has a hard time with English, but he is reading the Book of Mormon in Japanese and English side by side to help him understand it better. He is the most tender person I have ever met.  

We had a lesson with him right before church and we were teaching him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were sharing with him the story of Joseph Smith, and that he was looking for the true church so he asked God to know which one was it. We told Hibiki that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and gave him the answers he was searching for. 

Hibiki was on the edge of his seat, so eager to know the end of the story, "Did he find it!?"

"Yes! He did! He found it!"

"Where is it!?"

Oh my heart could have clapped, it felt so cheerful that we were able to tell Hibiki that we were sitting in the true church. That Joseph Smith was called by the power of God to be the prophet on the earth to restore and bring back the Gospel of Jesus Christ just as Jesus Christ Himself had established it when He was on the earth. We watched a video of the history of the Church showing the spread of the True Church world wide. And when it finished Hibiki was in awe. 

"So the True church isn't just a building, it's the Power of God?"

Friends, that is exactly what the church is; It is the ability to have direct access to the power of God. When Hibiki came to that realization his entire countenance lit up, he was so excited at this thought. And I was reminded why I'm excited at that thought too. You're telling me that because a young boy prayed to know the truth I now have access to God's power in my life every day to guide me and help me become more like my brother and very best friend who is Jesus Christ??? That is exactly what I tell people everyday! And that is exactly what the spirit witnessed to me on Sunday in the church building for the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

I didn't forget how exciting the Gospel is per say. But I did let my focus slip and was definitely more caught up feeling frazzled than I was on the excitement and joy that is promised to us when we believe in and focus on Jesus Christ. 

We went to Sacrament meeting and partook of the sacrament, renewing the covenants I made with my Heavenly Father when I was baptized and received the Holy Ghost. Renewing my excitement of the Lord's work. Recommitting to focus on Jesus Christ. I know that the blessings of being baptized with the power and authority of God are accessible to every single person, every single week from the day they are baptized through the rest of eternity. How grateful I am to have the chance to invite the Holy Ghost into my life every day as I repent and every Sunday as I make covenants with my Father in Heaven in the name of His son Jesus Christ. 

After Sunday, I was ready to start fresh, to forsake the frazzle and focus my faith. 

Friends, I know that those blessings are available to you. I know that the power of God is the priesthood power on this earth and that each of you has access to it when you make covenants with a Heavenly Father that loves you so big. I invite you to think about your baptism and confirmation and think about the blessings that were promised to you that day and the things you promised that day. How can you have access to God's power every day? I promise that you do, and I promise that it's a very personal thing because God knows YOU as if YOU were the only person to ever exist. He knows exactly what he promised YOU. And you should to. 

I love you all many bunches! Go give all the lovely humans so much heaven!

Love,

Sister Court

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!

♡stand in holy places so your ears can hear and your feet can walk -Tansley Kaye

♡he'll take ya places you didn't even know you were going -Tansley Kaye

♡every moment of my life must be holiness to the Lord

♡some people say 'I don't go to church. To me I can be on a mountainsides feel closer to God. I just wanna be on a mountainside.' Yeah that's the dumbest thing ever -president Stacey 

Sep 6 2023: Welcome to the Weekly Season 7 Ep. 2 - Little Feet and God's Shoes

 Hello! Hello!

This past week has been a little bit all over the place. 

I woke up one morning having a very big desire to just do it all with God and Jesus Christ. That I was going to sacrifice all my overthinking, any timidness, any thing holding me back from filling the shoes that I feel a little small for and just jump right into God's plan. (Which I already committed to doing a couple episodes ago.... thank goodness God is patient...)

 In a companion prayer with Sister Murri, she prayed for help to forget ourselves and fully rely on the spirit. I let my head get in the way sometimes and that's something I will always have to overcome. Yall probably all feel the same way. Again....thank goodness for a patient Heavenly Father who always has a plan to bring my head back in line with my heart and therefore in line with His will. 

It turns out however, that figuring out what God's plan is that we need to align with on the daily is quite the process. It felt like this past week, every time I planned the day, everything went to pot. Lessons fell through, there were no people around to talk to, busses and subways were late. On days that nothing goes according to plan, I know that God's plan is always better (a reoccurring theme I know). I see that everyday as we meet people that we never would have otherwise. But I just so badly want to be in line with His plan from the beginning. 

I KNOW that God's plan is the best plan! I KNOW His plan is the way! I KNOW that central to that plan is Jesus Christ! I have a handle on my testimony and faith in that. I just also want to feel like I have a handle on the missionary work that that same Heavenly Father has entrusted me with at this time. I realize it's a process, and I'm going to be patient, don't you worry. I'm not as hard on myself as i think this email is making it sound....

Sooo if you have any advice for me, I would super appreciate anything you got! 

Other than that, I am doing so good! The Ossington Zone is amazing! There is such a strong sense of unity. We have some really amazing friends that we are working with to accept a baptism date so they can be confirmed and receive a remission of their sins AND THEN partake of the sacrament WEEKLY! Baptism is just the beginning and I want these beautiful humans to begin so they can make it to the end goal! 

Also! We have done so much walking, my body feels like I've gone on a very long hike.... accept I have seen zero mountaintop views and the only wildlife to scope out are hopefully those willing to let God prevail in their life.... although there are some others who definitely are closer to wildlife than anything else..... I'm just joshin! They are all children of God and I love them, quirks and all. 

This sister is a happy camper here deep in the GTA! Keep being good humans! Love ya all many bunches, go give em Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!

♡God is the only person who works in the realm of impossible -Elder Frederick's

♡hurry but don't rush -elder Willard

♡doubt not but be believing -mormon 9:27

♡I really just need to be there -elder Conlee