Hello! Hello!
First of all time flies when your having fun and finding joy in the work. The last handful of transfers have disappeared and this one is no different. Sister Linton and I have so much fun together! Our current source of comedic relief is attempting to make sourdough bread, and writing a wrap about jenky Jane Street. We get work done too, don't you worry! But we are laughing and smiling the whole time. There is never a dull moment.
Second of all! A quick update on my friend Tomoaki who had to go back to Japan: he went to church for the first time in Japan AND he got to see the Tokyo temple. My heart is overflowing with joy for him! He really and truly is one of my best friends!
Third of all! We have this friend, his name is Xue Wen. He's getting baptized on Saturday. He is a philosophy student. When we met him at Humber College he told us he knew very little about religion but the idea of God philosophically made sense to him. I thought that was intriguing. Well, since then, Xue Wen has come to church every Sunday and attends institute every week. He has never missed a lesson and reads and prays daily. We have one member of our congregation who speaks mandarin (his 1st language) and they have become best buds.
When we invited him to be baptized a couple weeks ago he asked if it would help him have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We told him it would and he said, "then I think I need to be baptized."
Most of our lessons with Xue Wen have been over zoom. And every time he joins the call, all that shows on the camera is his face from his nose up. He wears these big glasses and it's the funniest thing to me. I've learned a lot of things from teaching Xue Wen, one of them is what it means to have an eye single to the glory of God. I can tell when Xue Wen smiles or resonates with something we say because his eyes change, they get happier. And when he is deep in thought, pondering a principle we have taught his eyes wander before he looks at the screen again to share his thoughts, and he has the best thoughts! When he feels the spirit I know it because as he looks at the screen its like he's seeing the whole painting be created before his very eyes. His eyes become so captivated. I testify that the spirit is captivating! It draws people in from their very core. Xue Wen has an eye single to the glory of God. I've never been able to say that I've actually seen what that means until I met Xue Wen.
Also! Xue Wen loves to pray. The other day in a lesson we asked if we could start with a prayer, as I began to say it he piped in and said, "actually, can I say it?" Of course! So he did, and as he was talking to God he said, "I used to feel praying was a burden but now I love it because I know I have a strong relationship with thee." And then after we had finished teaching, we said it was time to end with a prayer, and before any one could say anything Xue Wen started praying. I love the relationship Xue Wen has with Heavenly Father. He earnestly seeks that relationship and wants it to be stronger every day.
Fourth of all! I've felt a lot lately of the ways Heavenly father and Jesus christ feel for their children. Just so much love. And so much joy watching them grow. I think the growth I have observed in others is how I've seen God's hand a lot lately.
For example, in Mississauga, I was teaching a guy named Jonathan. I left and a few transfers later he got baptized. Now I'm in Etobicoke and Jonathan comes to the ysa and the activities. We are his missionaries that meet him regularly, I love teaching him. It’s kinda wild to teach him again after so long. And he has changed! He is a completely different person than when I met him 9 months ago. When he prays he TALKS to God like they were sitting at a table together having doughnuts. When we meet, he asks the questions of his soul and we study them together after he has studied and prayed about them himself. He is now the institute class president and joins us when teaching. He has become a disciple of jesus christ.
Another example, yesterday we had the chance to teach with sis Yergenson and sis Waldron. They have a friend they are passing to us to start teaching. But it was remarkable to teach with sis Waldron again and see how much she has grown up as a missionary since she was just a baby in Mississauga with me. I was overcome with adoration for her as I listened to her teach about the premortal life and Gods plan. Her understanding of the doctrine has deepened to a level that it's part of her very being.
Indeed God's hand is in the work. His hand is pulling us all forward, cradling us when it's tough, patting us on the head to make everything ok, pushing people in our path when they need the gospel, watering us with the living water and parting the clouds so the light of the world can shine on us when we need a little boost to keep growing.
I love you all many bunches and pray you see God's hand in all the little and big ways today, tomorrow and forever! Go give em Heaven!
Love,
Sister Court
Weekly Fridge Phrases!!!
♡The effort we make doesnt have to be moving the mountian RIGHT now. -robert morton
♡Join the Jesus book club -ella morton
♡If you get up and go do good your house is built on a rock -pres stacey
♡Let jesus take your wheel, because he drives way better than separated tires -josie jean
