Miracles in the City!

"Hello everyone! Bonjour! Comment ca va?

What an amazing week to the beginning of the transfer. ( A transfer is a period of six weeks in an area ) This week we have been focusing completely on the work of Salvation and we couldn't be happier! I have noticed that when I am in the service of others, and applying the work of salvation, that I am happy and everything goes well during the week. I am grateful for amazing leaders who have inspired us as a companionship to apply the work of salvation. We are seeing the results of this work every day!

We are doing very well!! I love being able to align my will with the mission vision. I desire to be in the service of others each day. As we are busy teaching and finding, the Spirit is there and because of that I am happy. I have come to a realization more than ever before that the time to serve a mission is very short and I need to be giving my all each day and coming home tired. This is usually the case.

Elder Ray is a good example of quiet diligence. He is an outstanding missionary and he loves to love the people. He has a desire to rely on the Lord as he prays and it is an example to me. I thank God for my great companion.

The ward is great here! the work of salvation is well and going here in Scarborough. We noticed that the more we counsel with the ward leaders and serve them, the more we are teaching more and more lessons. There is more of the Spirit and more people are being taught when we are seeking to uplift and strengthen the members.

This week there have been so many miracles! Each day even!

7 miracles for 7 days!

#1: We went by to a members home for FHE and the granddaughter was referred to us and that granddaughter wants to be baptized!

#2: We invited a sister to help teach a returning member and turns out they are sisters! And the sister we invited actually wanted to do more family history and the returning member offered to help her to do that! Family History Miracles!

#3:We called our Ward mission Leader to counsel with him and to offer our help. The Zone Leaders had invited us to build good relationships with the Ward Council members. This is what happened. For the next 45 minutes, Our ward mission leader shared his testimony with us and told us of his desires to serve in the ward. We now knew very well how to help him in his calling.

#4: During our weekly planning for the week we called a sister who said that we were inspired to call her because she had a friend of hers for us to teach. We happened to call her during the seeking more referrals step of weekly planning too!

#5: Bishop referred us to a family in the ward. We went to contact them with a recently re activated member. The family we meant to visit wasn't home, so we re evaluated our plans. We went with the brother who was to come teaching with us. He prayed that we would be lead to a home to teach the Gospel. We were. We felt impressed to go an visit a less active family. The two less active sons were home. The member we brought bore his testimony of his returning into activity. The two sons then decided they wanted to meet with us again and to learn more about the Gospel. We also provided service for a member in the ward. Also the member who came with us teaching that night told us that he was having a really tough week, but being able to share his testimony strengthened his faith in Christ and helped him to know that god was really there answering his prayers.

#6: We found 4 new investigators today by always opening our mouths and standing as a witness of Christ. We also had a lesson with a less active member who referred his wife to us and she wants to be taught and come to church. At the end of the evening we had dinner with a less active family and they want to eventually return to church and make their way to the Temple. We also after the dinner went to a part member home and the young son who was there (he was the member) referred us to a friend of his at school who was a member but didn't know where the church was in her area. We helped the young man find the church for her so he can give that to her at school.

#7: Today at stake conference there was a very mighty miracle that occurred. A speaker spoke on her experiences with serving a mission and she invited each member to give at least one name to the missionaries. As soon as she said that, the member beside me told me of a family who he wants us to teach and that the family was already wanting to be taught. He said: "Can you help me with that?" We replied: "yes, yes we can!" :)

I notice that the more I align my will with the Lords and seek to apply the mission vision, the more real it seems and the easier it is to feel the Spirit. I can also testify that as we look for miracles in every day, especially the work of salvation ones, we will be able to find it! I know this work is true and the God directs it today.

Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Fathers Plan!

Have a wonderful week!

An invitation: Make someone you love smile today. As you do it will also make you smile and the burdens you carry will seem lighter and easier for you to carry. I know this is true. "The future is as bright as your faith" - Thomas S Monson :)

Elders Ray and Wehi"

Some Experiences from this week

"The work of salvation is going forward here and it is noticeable. The members trust us, we just need to apply and progress the ideas we recieve in weekly planning. We are striving to apply the points that the zone leaders gave us for planning and we see how it helps so much. It has been a joy to see the hand of the Lord in returning members and their progression here in Scarborough.

There was an experience this week that really touched my heart. 2 actually, sorry haha. the first is an unforseen opportunity to serve. So Elder Ray and I were walking to an apartment building to follow up on an investigator when we saw a younger couple moving into the building. They had soooooo many things packed into the little moving van that they had and ot looked like they were really struggling. As soon as we saw this, Elder Ray and I knew we had to do something becuse the Spirit impressed the feeling upon us to help them, so strongly. We just went up to them and started grabbing things from the truck to help and they allowed us to. At first they were hesitant because we had just started helping, but after some time they opened up to us and told us about their family and why they were moving. They were from Fiji! Some of the first inslander people I have met in Toronto. They were very kind and even though it took some time to move everything in, they were very happy that we had helped. Just before we left, they told us that they had prayed for God to help them and that they recognized us as an answer to their prayers. They cried and prayed that they would see us again. They had been touched by the Spirit, it was so evident. I left that day from that service feeling such a profound gratitude in my heart for how God answers prayers and as we are looking for opportunities to serve, the Lord will provide. When we see someone sad, or alone. When someone is in need or cannot do something by themselves physically or mentally. Moments when someones need is in view; I promise that when we act to help these people, it is a way for us to preach the Gospel. I love the saying: "Preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words." because through service, sharing the Gospel comes with so much power that the Spirit will testify everytime. I know that this is true.

The other experience was with a man on the street. We were walking with another set of missionaries when I saw a man hunched over sitting on a bench waiting for the bus. I felt an impression to walk over to him and start talking with him. He saw us and snorted a little at us. He then saw our badge and looked at my companion and I. He said: "Do you believe in Jesus?" I said yes. He looked down again. and then he said: "well Ive wanted to know about him, but I dont know if I can." We listened. "Because I am trying to stop drinking and I cannot do it." He started to cry heavily. He asked me if he could learn about Jesus Christ. We testified of the Savior and of His Atonement. He looked up and with tears continuing to flow from his eyes, said: "well will you teach me? will you help me to stop drinking? I want to but it is so hard!" I held his hand and looked striaght into his eyes and with all the certainty of my Spirit said: "He loves you." He cried and cried as we prayed with him, and though it was cold I had such a profound feeling of gratitude for the Spirit and the love of God, that even though this man had made so many mistakes, that he wanted to start again. We set up a time to come to see him and his family and teach them the Gospel. I testify that God loves all the children here in Toronto, we just have to open our mouths and let them know :)

I love being a missionary and I know that this is the Lords work. This is His Gospel. This is a labor of love, and I love it.

Also I want to let you know about an experience that continues to affirm to me how inspired the vision for this mission is, regarding returning members. Last night we were coming from a dinner appointment from a members home when I looekd to my companion, who was walking beside me and I felt a feeling that we should pray and seek someone to find in the nearby area. We prayed. As we continued to walk, nobody was seemingly interested at all. We kept talking with everyone but not much happened. We then saw an apartment building and felt impressed to go to it. It was locked and the only way to get inside was by buzzing someone who lived there. We did so but to no avail. I felt impressed though to continue trying. We got buzzed in! and we then went to another floor. We started knocking doors and nobody was home, and those that were were not interested at all. We were about to finish and go when we heard a door open down the hall. A lady appeared. We went to talk with her. She told us that she was an inactive member of the church and she allowed us to visit her again this coming week. We felt so grateful that the Lord had placed us in the palce of one of his lost sheep. We are grateful to know that God cares about all His children' not only those who havent heard about the Gospel, but also those who have lost their way. I know that this work is inspired of God and that the mission vision is true.

Have a great week!

Elder Wehi"

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

"Just wanted to email and send my greetings and thanksgiving for what you have done for a part of my life, wether it has been big or small acts of kindness that you have given me. I want to say thanks!

I want to share with you a quote I heard the other day and I loved it. It says: "Christ can only help us when we want to understand the need for forgiveness..just like a person will only go to the Doctor when they know they are sick."

Thankyou so much and have a wonderful week!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is restored today!

Elder Wehi"

Scarborough adventures!

"Allo! Comment Ca Va?

WOW! Scarborough is so diverse! I have never been in such a diverse city and place before. Its amazing. We see all kinds of people here and the minority is Canadian people haha. Its a great place to serve and we love doing so each day.

Not much has happened this week, but miracles happen every day. We work hard and know that the Lord will make up the rest. I am so grateful for my calling as a missionary and the things I am learning every day.

I was thinking about something I would like to share with you all on a highlight of the week for me. It was the last day of the week and it was General Conference time again! I was pondering the last song: "Love One Another" and as I did I could see myself in many instances throughout the mission on moments that have mattered most, and the mission here in Canada Toronto has been perfect for me. I have truly learnt a powerful lesson in sharing the teaching of Christ and inviting others to Him. I have come to learn that our role is one main thing...ministering. To give our lives in the service of others. I am talking about the kind of service of the heart. To think of someone who is struggling or in need of a listening ear and to be able to listen to them. The best way to invite someone to Christ that I have seen is to pray for help, listen for promptings from the Spirit and then to act. More times than not the promptings will refer us to small acts of kindness that we can choose to or not to do.

As I was sitting listening to the words of the song being sung in the meeting I couldn't help but think back to all the times I felt the Spirit on the mission and what has come to matter most to me, and that has been the happiness of others. The Gospel,, when lived in faith, makes us happy. That kind of happiness lasts. Because we must love all people, we must forgive all people. Only in those times will we have the vision to see clearly the needs of others and how to best serve them.

Hope you all have a great week!

Your missionaries, Elder Ray and Wehi

:)"