May 8: Welcome to the Weekly Season 13 Ep. 1 Anotha Aussie Daughter Sitting by the Fire

Hello! Hello!

London YSA is incredible. The members here are so involved! If there is an excuse to get together they do. It's a ton of fun. Opening the area has been a grind. It's been closer for a few transfers so there are zero people to teach right now. My new companion, Sister Coulson is fabulous. She is from Australia and she is everything! I love her with all my heart. We laugh all the time! We can go from laughing to having a meaningful conversation about Jesus in 0.7 seconds. We are working so hard together! I'm excited for this transfer! 

I haven't been this tired & stressed since the beginning of my mission. This go around, it's different because this is godly weariness and stress. 13th transfer sister Court is a very different person than start of mission sister Court. In the beginning of my mission, I thought I had to grit my teeth & just get through it. Now I know that there is a difference between going forward gritting my teeth & pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ. 

I'm tired but God gets me through each day. Everyday I get to be a missionary is a gift. And you only get so many. I'm stressed but I'm getting the hang of things & helping Sister Coulson get the hang of things. Another thing thats different from baby missionry sister court is that now I'm not trying to do those things alone. I understand that it's really Jesus Christ that helps us get the hang of things. 

When Sister Coulson has a question or there is a moment of discouragement I do my best to point us to Jesus Christ in all things. He is the answer for everything AND the reason we have all the answers for all questions. 

Sister coulson is doing AMAZING. It's a little tough right now as we are rebuilding the area & trying to talk to as many people as we can so we can fill our currently dry teaching pool. There are some cool successes, but a lot of the fruit that I think Sister Coulson expected to see coming into the mission isn't immediately prevelant. She's a hard worker. She's trying new things, & has amazing ideas for this area. She has so much fire. It's a tad discouraging when that fire doesn't spread to others around you. 

But, I know that it will as we continue to be diligent. You can't build a roaring fire with just kindle. You gotta keep feeding it things to burn. We've talked a lot about personal conversion and developing faith so we can have faith in Christ on behalf of those we meet until they have the opportunity to build that faith themselves. Feed our own fire to spark it in others. Then keep giving them opportunities to feed their fire (if they so choose) until its roaring like ours. 

In the meantime, Sister coulson and I will keep feeding our fires and making our after nine time microwave smores to keep us sustained. Hehe 

I want to invite each of you to build you faith fire. Don't let it die out because you're only giving it kindling. Toss on an all night log and let your fire burn, keep adding and adding. Your campfire of faith will get you through everything! I promise!

I love you all so many bunches. Go give them Heaven!

Love,

Sister Court

P.s. I don't have any pictures of myself. Apparently I've been delinquent at taking them so enjoy these random ones instead...

Weekly Fridge phrases!!!

♡Death is a gift given to us from god based on a choice we made long ago to even come to earth in the first place -Bishop LaFrance 

♡Judgement shouldnt scare you it should inspire you, you will have a one and one interview with jesus christ - Bishop LaFrance

♡He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

May 2 2024: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 6 Come back! Come stay!

Hello! Hello!

Another transfer has come and gone. I'm staying in London in the same apartment either my companion except we are both getting new companions. I will be training a new missionary and opening another YSA area in the London ysa branch. Sister Brooks and I are so excited to still.be living together! It's going to be a fabulous 6 weeks! 

This transfer has been one of gathering the previously gathered. I am so grateful for the work we have been able to do in London 1st. We found and taught many new people too. And there are some exciting things lined up and prepared for next transfer with those people, but I really do feel in my heart that this transfer, God needed us to gather His lost sheep that have already been brought into the fold, so that they could come back. 

For example, on our first Sunday in London, one of the members pointed out a guy that they had never seen before. He was in his Sunday best and looked like he knew what he was doing. We went to talk to him and learned that he was baptized as a kid and grew up in the church but for the better part of his teenage life until 2 years ago, he has been completely unreligious. That day was his first Sunday back at the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His name is Joseph, he's a crazy smart guy and has been everywhere and does everything, but he remembers next to nothing about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We began meeting him weekly and engaged in spiritually and mentally invigorating conversations that have left my brain and heart with a yearning for a deeper understanding of the gospel. He comes to church every week, and activities, he fellowships himself. Joseph is being gathered again. 

Another example, Logan. He has the most incredible story. Although he has been away from the church for many years, he has always known that this ward is his family because the people in this ward supported him when he was at his lowest. He is so happy to be back. We have met with Logan a couple times & he has shared his story & testimony with us. He is a spiritual giant. From Logan I have learned that we have a huge impact on people even if we don't know it or think that what we're doing is small. Logan has told us of many people in this ward that have impacted him and have stuck with him. These are people that he knows he can come back to that will have open arms to welcome him. 

One more, a recent convert from New jersey recently moved to London. He promised his missionaries in New Jersey that he would find the church here. And so he did. Peter referred himself asking for a missionary visit. We thought it was someone interested in learning more, but it turned out that he is in fact a member wanting to keep going on the covenant path. He is preparing to recieve the priesthood and he joins lessons with us and our other friends all the time. He is rock solid in this gospel! 

All parts of God's work are important. God needs all of his sheep gathered and secured in the fold. This transfer we did a lot of gathering and securing of those who have strayed or are still trying to find their way. It has been a joy to be a part of it. 

P.s. the sunshine!! It's here! Blessings!

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!!

♡It is okay to go in reverse for a bit if that puts us on the right path to success. -wendy brown 

♡"Missionary work is cool guyzzzz." -elder Bilben

April 24: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 5 some smiley thoughts n' things

 Hello! Hello!

•f•r•i•e•n•d•s• update:

Kai- pray for him! We haven't been able to meet with him in a little bit because he us taking care of his friend who is very sick. We are working with him to adjust his baptism date. Pray that he will find comfort as he cares for his friend and that he will find time to meet with us again soon.  

Earl- the sweetest spirit I have ever met. He is so close to the spirit and gets excited about the simple truths of the gospel. When Jesus asks us to be as a child, I think He means be like Earl. Earl is preparing for baptism at the end of May and is coming to church for the first time this Sunday. Pray for him that he'll be able to find safe transportation to church. 

Will- literally so cool! He gets the gospel! He loves Jesus with everything he's got! He has the sincerest desire to come closer to God. Pray for him that as he prays about being baptized, he will have the courage to take a leap of faith even if he doesn't know the whole plan in front of him (we could all probably use a prayer or 2--or maybe like 7 in my case--in that department haha)

This week was full of magical moments where I was just so aware that God sees me, and Jesus is beside me. And that they both just love all of their children so much! I have a note on my phone that I record the moments my heart smiles on people like Jesus Christ's countenance smiled on the Nephites in 3 Nephi 19:25. Essentially they are moments that I can very clearly feel and see the people around me as the saviour does. They are very precious moments to me. So I thought I would share a few with you:) 

1. We were teaching our friend Earl about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were talking about faith and he told us that to him faith is like hope. So I asked him what brought him hope. His eyes got shiny and he had the biggest grin on his face as he told us that we brought him hope, the sun brought him hope and the cardinal and blue Jay he saw that morning brought him hope. He truly finds God in every little thing. 

2. We were at a little Café doing some studies. The whole world turned magical. The sun shone through the window. The baristas behind the counter knew everyone coming in. The people around us were reading books or writing in journals. Out of no where a dog came in and sat beside me. Everyone was smiling. A mom and son shared a cookie on the bench outside. Everything was just wholesome and happy and I could see the light of Christ that each of those people had, even though many of them don't know that they have it. If Jesus would have walked into that café I think he would have smiled on all of us too.  

3. We were sitting in the food court at a little mall to call all of our friends. When we stood up to leave, we noticed a group of friends gathered around a table doing what appeared to be family history. We went to talk with them and learned that they had all been friends for 30+ years and get together every Monday to chat and catch up. And play cards. Except that day when one of them had found a ton of photos and things that he didn't have before. He couldn't wait to show his friends! So combing through them all was their activity that day. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be connected. Connected to each other, connected to our families, and connected to Him. 

4. We walked into a Tim Hortons for a lesson. The gal in front of us held the door for us and when she turned around to walk in the tims she saw someone that she hadn't seen in fiveever and clearly wasn't expecting to see. They were both so excited and wrapped each other in the biggest hug. It was such a sweet human moment.  

People really are just a wonderful thing! I'm grateful for them all. I cherish the small people moments ️ I invite you to see them and cherish them too. The world becomes a much happier place when you're looking for reasons to let your heart smile. 

I love you all many bunches! Go give em Heaven!

Big loves,

Sister Court 

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!!

♡Sometimes we need our plans put through a paper shredder and torched by a flamethrower in order for us to see that we have to put our own plans aside and trust in gods timing 

-Ethan salt

Hehe I clearly didn't take very good notes this week, so you just get the one fridge phrase

April 17 2024: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 4 here a ray and there a ray

 Hello! Hello!

Our friend Kai!! He has accepted a date for baptism! He is so excited to follow his Lord and Saviour! He came to another friend's baptism on Sunday. We showed him a picture of Jesus being baptized after and he said that he couldn't wait for his turn in a couple weeks! He is ready for the restored gospel! 

I've been studying witnesses of the spirit. As I studied, I read in pmg which says guidance of the holy ghost requires spiritual work. We may not receive a pillar of light all at once but if we are diligent we can receive ray by ray that will accumulate to make our pillar. 

As I prayed to close my study the other day, I prayed that I would have the open heart to recognize the little witnesses of the spirit & that I would have opportunities to be extra diligent. At a gas station later that day, I met a man. At first I just made small talk about the weather and was about to leave after filling up, but I remembered my prayer and got back out of the car to share with him my missionary purpose. Haha he wasn't receptive at all. Not rude, just very devout in his faith. He began telling me that so many people are looking for the answers to life's questions. And asked me, "where were you before you were here? What happens after you die? Why are you even here? What's the purpose of life?" He meant for them to be rhetorical and didn't grant me any time to share what I believed the answers to be. But as he shared with me what he believed the answers to be. As he did so, I felt the witness of the spirit testify to me the truth of the real answers to each of those questions. I know the answers to all of those questions because I have a loving heavenly father who has a plan for me that is centered on His son Jesus Christ, whose atonement makes the whole plan possible. 

I testify that before this life we lived as spirits with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. There Heavenly Father presented to us a plan and Jesus Christ volunteered to be our saviour. We are Gere on earth because we chose to follow that plan, knowing full well that we were going to be given trials and opposition. These things are meant for us to have so we can learn and grow and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is our purpose, to allow the enabling power of Jesus Christ to lift us to a higher and holier person. I know that after we die each of our spirits will go to the spirit world and each one of us will be resurrected and judged according to our works and desires of our hearts. We will have the opportunity to have eternal life and exaltation with our families forever if we have chosen to live in a way that grants those blessings. 

That moment was one the rays that day. And I'm so grateful I was able to be receptive to it. 

I invite you to ponder these truths and internalize them! Ask God for your own spiritual witnesses of them. I promise they will come ray upon ray. 

Love you all many bunches! Go give em Heaven!

Big loves,

Sister Court 

April 10: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 3 and then there were 2 and THE prophet

Hello! Hello!

First of all, the trio has become a duo :(( a sister in another area went home unexpectedly which meant that there was a gap to fill else where. Sister Lee was the one chosen to be yanked away. This trio was honestly such a dream it was just so much fun and we have been working so hard. We had such a good groove. Sister Brooks and I will just have to keep the groove going 😎

General conference was a miraculous weekend. We worked so hard and invited EVERYONE to watch. Not everyone watched. In fact like no one we invited to during the week did. BUT! Junior and Tersa and their family did! Junior told us he thought it was amazing! He had the biggest smile on his face. As we were sustaining the general authorities Saturday morning, his kids were sustaining them too, with so much enthusiasm. It was the sweetest thing! 

In between sessions on Saturday a family that Sis. Brooks had talked to a week ago- and gave our info to but didnt get contact info from them- walked into the church because they had remembered that something was going on, but couldn't remember the time. We gave them a church tour. They loved it! And asked all the right questions. They couldn't stay for conference but we sent them the link and one of them watched on Sunday! 

Then right before the Saturday afternoon session was about to start another man walks into the church. He was a referral that we had texted but he never answered so we weren't expecting anyone to come. His name is Kai and he is a new Christian. He knows he needs to follow Jesus because he had a dream that Jesus came to him and told him that He was his Saviour. Talk about prepared. He loved the Saturday afternoon session of conference and said he would come again on Sunday. AND HE DID! On Sunday afternoon he was there. We told him that in this session we would get to hear the living prophet on the earth speak to us. He was so excited and the whole session waited in great anticipation to listen to President Nelson. When president Nelson started speaking Kai looked at him, pointed at the screen and whispered, "This IS the prophet of God." Goosebumps. He knows it! He feels it! We will teach him again this week. And I can feel in my heart that Kai will be a lifelong disciple of Christ. I am so excited to see how God works with this son of His to bring him closer to Christ.  

My conference highlights!⬇️

1!! A temple in Victoria!! Oh my lanta! Are you kidding!? My heeeaaaarrrttttttt! Yall don't even know how happy I am! What a beautiful place for a House of the Lord! And what a needed place for there to be a House of the Lord! 

2. I came to conference with a list of questions that I have had on my mind the last few days and while I didn't find or recueve a direct answer or an epiphany that provided all the solutions, I did recieve the process by which I will be able to find the answers I seek. 

The answer is found in Temples! And Covenants! While I'm a missionary I don't have the opportunity to go to the temple very often (especially right now as the Toronto temple is closed). But I can study the covenants I have made there. I can recommit to living them every day even though I can't go to the temple. So that is what I'm going to do. I am going to study the covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father. And I am so excited to do so! 

I want to invite you (if you have made covenants with God whether in the baptism font or in His Holy House) to reflect and study them. How can you live them more fully?

Another fun tidbit:)))

We got to watch the eclipse! So cool! Almost got attacked by Satan geese but ya win some ya learn some I suppose haha

I love you all many bunches! Go give em Heaven! 

Big Loves,

Sister Court 

Ok ok it's about time for some fridge phrases!!

♡the Book will never lead you astray! NEVER! 

♡Here a ray and there a ray -Alexander Dushku

♡covenants don't take a day off -Dallin H. Oaks

April 3 2024: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 2 Because of Him🥚🐣🌸😇

Hello! Hello!

Oh my lanta friends! It was Easter! It truly is the most wonderful time of year! Because of the message of Easter Christmas has significance. Because without Easter, the birth of Jesus Christ would have just been another birth. I know that the life of Jesus Christ is the only perfect life ever lived. I know that Jesus Christ performed the single most miraculous and impactful event in all of history as He suffered and payed the price for each and every one of your pains and shortcomings. I know that the death of Jesus christ wasn't the end. I know that He was resurrected and He lives today. And because of Him I have hope for a better world and because of Him I know that I will always always always have someone to guide, protect and heal me. Jesus is the Christ. He is my Brother, and He is my Covenant Father. I love Him and I am so grateful I get to share Him with so many people.

We are teaching the most wonderful family right now. Junior and Tersa have 5 kids and we were able to reach them about the plan of salvation this past week. We brought a white board and markers and had the oldest boy draw out the plan as we taught. It turned into more of a tool to keep the younger kids entertained. But they were all engaged. I saw each member of this family realize the blessings of God's plan of salvation. It was a very exciting lesson! Om Easter sunday they all came to church together for the first time. They don't drive and have too many young kids to bus the 90 minutes it takes to get to the church. So we found them rides- plural because no one has room to take all 7 extra people. BUT they needed one more carseat, so we hunted all over facebook marketplace. AND THEN by God's hand, we found one in the mother's lounge of the church building! 

It was the perfect service! The primary sang and then the bishop invited everyone to share their testimonies of the saviour at the pulpit. Many of the primary children stayed and shared their sweet, simple and pure testimonies. Our family of five kids loved it and the kids can't wait to go to primary!

I've never taught a whole family on my mission before. So this new experience is thrilling, and fills my heart to the very brim with a joy for Jesus Christs Gospel! I truly know that because of Him families can be together forever!

Junior and Tersa are praying about a day to be baptized. Do if y'all could keep them in your prayers that would be wonderful! They are so ready, and I am so excited for them to experience the blessings the gospel will bring to their family! 

I love y'all many bunches! Go give all the individuals and families Heaven! 

Big loves, 

Sister Court

Weekly fridge phrases!!

♡the Lord WILL magnify our efforts but there needs to be effort there for Him to magnify -sister Lee

♡will you PLEASE know that He knows you?! -president stacey 

♡I am here to make Heaven full -Josie Jean 

P.s. Apologies for the lack of pics this week...

March 27: Welcome to the Weekly Season 12 Ep. 1 A Good Ol' GTA Ice Bath: Welcome Home

Hello! Hello! 

If you are not Bob, feel free to skip this part haha....

Bob! I'm so sorry I didn't send a letter last week! I know you were probably refreshing your computer tirelessly looking for it! Don't worry! I'm back!

First of all! Transfers! Sister Linton and I have been split up! Oh my lanta how I love her! My mission president finally let this kat out of the GTA, I'm now serving in London in a trio! My companions are sister Brooks who is in her 4th transfer and Sister Lee who is in her 2nd transfer. Sister Brooks and I are her stepmoms hehe.

I have many mixed emotions about not being in Toronto. That crazy place is a now a big part of my life, and who I am as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I spent longer in the GTA than I did in Victoria, BC at school.

 If you would've asked me 18 months ago if I would ever feel at home in a big city I would've chuckled, told you that would never happen and then pour you the cup of coffee (or herbal tea) you ordered at Kim's coffee shop. 

But then a crazy thing happened. I got called on a mission to Toronto Canada and the first area this small town gal pal got placed was Etobicoke, right in the middle of the GTA. The 16 months following I bounced around places in the city including Mississauga, Brampton, Downtown Toronto, and eventually, right back in Etobicoke where it all began. Everyday I fell in love with it more and more. I found Jesus Christ in the GTA. And because I found Him I found and felt Home. 

Not to worry though! London thus far, is a ton of fun! My companions are angels! Lots of people to talk to, and the ward members are amazing! My heart is falling in love with them already.

Not too much else to report on the London front right now so I'll take a quick detour to talk about a miracle I was blessed to witness in my last week in Etobicoke! 

Do you remember Burrito Boy Tyson? How could you forget him! He was baptized my last Sunday in the Coke! And he was so ready! There was nothing that was going to stop him from getting into the font.... not even the ice cold water that filled it. 

🏙Picture this🌄

Sister linton and I running back and forth across the church from the kitchen to the font with pots of boiling water trying to fill the font the rest of the way because the hot water wasn't working on the font side of the chapel. We had kettles boiling in the bathroom and like 6 pots on the stove (maybe it was only 4 but like holy man, it was ridiculous). And after all of that, the water was still absolutely freezing. Tyson may as well have been baptized in Lake Ontario. 

But he did it and the whole time he was smiling. My heart is so full that I got to be a part of his journey leading up to his baptism. He shared his testimony to everyone after and it was so heartfelt,.and so genuine. He really is just so happy that he found the true church of Jesus Christ and now has the Gift of the Holy Ghost so he can communicate with it 24/7. 

Friends! I love you, and I testify that this is God's work! I testify that God has a plan for each of his children- you and me. His timing for those plans is impeccable. Trust His process, make it your process. The promised happiness and joy that comes when you do is incomprehensible. I know this because I've experienced it and I've witnessed so many of my now good friends experience it too. It's so real! 

I love you all so many bunches and pray you give all the lovely people in your life heaven!

Big loves,

Sister Court 

Weekly Fridge Phrases!!

♡Jesus christ is full of everlasting beginnings -sister brooks

♡faith builds on the past, but never longs to stay there -elder Holland 

♡compared to God, man is nothing, yet we are everything to God -elder uchtdorf