Hello Everyone!
So this week felt super unorganized. I think that was sort of my fault though. I've slowly been getting more casual with my planning as my mission has gone on and so this week God put all the surprises into it and because of my lack things were very up and down... But repentance is real and so is God and guess what? We're going to do better! So yes with all things said and done only two of the seven days this week did we actually get to do our studies. Every other day something else came up and we had to go and do our best to work with and around it. Thursday all of our appointments lined up in such a way that we ended up picking up dinner from a member and then eating it in our car because we didn't have time to travel home to eat on a real table. That was a lot of fun actually but it was also exhausting. I've been falling asleep so fast every night this week. (Sorry no crazy dreams.)
Still when all was said and done this was a very good week. We had some really solid lessons. (Though not with Anna as she had a surprise emergency but she rescheduled for tomorrow.) I think one that really stood out this week was with our returning member family. The Wong family has been inactive for several months now and semi active before that. We've been visiting with them every week for the last three transfers and it's been an up and down experience as they have never come to church in that whole time. But this week was an incredible lesson. We talked about sealing and how families can be together forever and Sister Wong was so touched she was crying and Brother Wong looked at peace for the first time that I've known him. They have agreed that we can help them set goals to go to the temple and it was probably one of the best lessons I've had on my mission thus far. God has so much love for His children.
Caleb's lesson this week was on how to pay tithing because we found out last Sunday that he had never seen a tithing slip before... WHOOPS! Our bad! We fixed it though and he was ready to go! That being said we ended up teaching the same lesson to Allen and to Robin just in case.
Allen found a job this week! That was really exciting for him and only a little less so for us because that means he's moving to Mississauga and then he told us. "but I'll still come to church here." And we were all like... "There's a ward in Mississauga too." And this was his response. "It's only an hour drive, and I like it here." And we were kind of like.... "We can talk about this later." And internally we were like... 'If you like it here then get baptized!' We're still working on that for him.
Robin fed us this week and he is a really good cook! But the lesson was good too. He really enjoys looking out for others.
And of course as par usual Sunday was the best day. Caleb and Robin got up to bear their testimonies. (As next week is Stake conference for Kitchener) Caleb had told us the day before that he was so nervous as he wanted to prepare his talk in such a way that it would be able to help as many people as possible. He was the second person to get up and speak and it was amazing. He shared a story about how two weeks ago his new roommate had shared a lot of negative feelings about the church and how distressed he was by how convincing this argument was. "I was so worried that all of the good things I had found and lived were wrong. And so I went into my room and closed the door and said a prayer." He went on to share how he had done an internet search after and was saddened to find a lot of negative things but then he remembered how in conference they had warned him about this and how in school they were taught to always examine the source. He said another prayer and found the strength he needed to keep coming to church even though he had some doubts and was really worried about his upcoming tests. Then after church he was driving home with Allen who offered to help him with his course that he was most worried about. And latter another friend came to help as well. "I prayed to just be able to pass, but God is generous and so he gave me more. I know He will keep blessing us as we live his commandments and go to church."
It was amazing and powerful. After Church I watched as the new home teaching assignments were passed out and Caleb went to find and set up his teaching appointments right then. Robin was barely a step behind. His testimony was also a wonderful analogy about how we are here on earth to make the best out of what God has given us. Our time our resources, our relationships. He also said that he kept coming to church because this is where he finds people who will help him to continue to believe in God.
Caleb and Robin are some of the most sincere and loving people I've ever met since coming out on my mission and there is a light in them that I will never forget. God is real. He loves His children so much and there is nothing that will stand in the way of that. Keep trying keep working talk to as many people as you can because there are people out there who need this gospel. Need this hope. Need God. Need you. Don't give up.
I love you all so much. I hope you had a great week.
-Sister Skinner
So some side notes of things that happened this week. We were in the car... A lot. (WAY too much) We saw some pretty sunsets, we saw even more construction. (to the point where every time we see someone wearing neon colors with reflectors we call out "Construction FASHION!" Seriously though, there is SO much construction in the Kitchener Waterloo Area and I was fed up with it this week. There was one day where we were listening to 'You are Loved' by Josh Groban and I made the mistake of saying "I could listen to this song all day." And then Sister Moody said. "Challenge accepted and then we listened to it 45 times in a row. (We kept track) Also something really important for you to know is that there is a man who we see occasionally on Waterloo campus who walks around in full out Episode III Anakin costume (He's got multiple sets) and a Jedi robe and he just struts down the street like it's nobody's business. Unfortunately we only ever see him while we're in the car so we haven't officially met yet but sister Moody got some really bad quality pictures so I can officially tell you all about it with out all of you worrying that I'm just seeing things. And the last one of one of the English new converts Darien who was just knocked out and by that point I was ready to join him!
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