February 15, 2016: Chubby Chickens

Hello Family and Friends!

Like always, its been an adventurous week in Vancouver. Hopefully last week my email made sense because right when I was getting into the good parts of it the fire alarm at the downtown library went off. At first I just kept typing but then an announcement came on saying that the fire was on the 4th floor... We were on the 4th floor but it didn't really register to me yet! Then a lady came over to us and was like "This is for reals girls. Get off!" She didn't understand when I told her I needed to send pictures home. jk. haha :) But really its been another great week and the Lord has been blessing us lots!

As for a couple funny stories- We were knocking some doors this week (which both me and Sister Unwin are a little rusty at because we have been in YSA branches) but we were talking to this lady and she wasn't really interested. We have been trying to ask for referrals in a more effective way be saying, "Who do you know who...." But Sister Unwin comes out with "Who do you know who has a son?..." And it was just awkward and the lady just shut the door and it was hilarious. Afterwards she said she didn't know what was coming out of her month until it came out. lol.

Another evening we were waiting for the bus and then a man was walking by so we stopped him and started chatting with him. He was a bit drunk so we were then trying to get rid of him but before he left he touched Sister Unwin's chin and was like "Aren't you a little chubby chicken??" Oh we found it hilarious. Then later in the week saw stopped by a former investigator who thought we were the last missionaries and turned to Sister Unwin and was like "You used to be a lot skinnier last year?" Those experiences just drew the line and now we are only taking the stairs at the skytrain stations. lol. :)

Our investigators are doing really well. Some are pretty ill so we haven't been able to see a few. But we did see Elisabeth and Roy again this week. We were surprised of how well they were doing! They are now up to Jacob in the Book of Mormon and they are liking it a lot more since they have been out of the Isaiah chapters. They are coming to know its true. We taught a lesson on Faith in Jesus Christ and the member we brought showed the Mormon message about the current bush and the spirit was so strong. Roy had tears rolling down his face! Elisabeth has been having a hard time walking lately so we asked her if she wanted a priesthood blessing and she said yes. So the next day we sent the Elders over to give her one. Roy also asked for a blessings for counsel and comfort! Then the next day we called them to follow up and see how it went and they loved the blessings! Elisabeth said that her walking has already improved. Its been a great blessing to me to see how much there faith has grown since when I first met them. :)

Also the former that told us we used to be skinnier was a miracle! Her name is Josie and while we were planning one night we felt impressed that we needed to be in an area the next day. So we also looked through our area book to see who lived in the area and decided to go and visit her. So we did and she was home!! She let us right in and was taught the Restoration and she remembers quite a bit! We also invited her to be baptized and she set a date for March. We also had a big stake conference broadcast yesterday which we had to meet in the Burnaby chapel and she came to that and loved it! She is doing great and the Gospel will bless her so much.

We have started teaching again some really cool formers and we have been passed a couple investigators this week by other missionaries. So we are excited to see what this next week brings! :)

I truly love my mission so much. The stake conference broadcast was such a spiritual meeting! I wish I could have experienced that at the beginning of my mission! It was funny because before it started me and Sister Unwin her making guesses which Apostles or seventies would be speaking and I guessed right! C. Scott Grow! (Mostly I just guessed him because he's the one's name I can remember... haha)  But some highlights from the meeting were "You never check your religion at the door." and "True happiness comes from being true to standards." Elder Renlund also spoke of using the Restoration in a simple way to answer questions to the church. Whatever someone asks us about he Word of Wisdom, living the Law of Chastity, or any deeper doctrines, it comes down to we believe in revelation through a prophet of God. It was amazing because he also explained the Plan of Salvation in such a simple way! The Gospel is so simple and is so true!! I love it that I get to share it with others and to see God's hand in the work each day. I know he is there and is aware of each of us. This is his church and it is led by Jesus Christ through Prophet of God. I love you all so much!! Thank you for all of you love, support and prayers.

Love,

Sister Lofthouse 

Reflections at Stanley Park

Swan Princess??

Downtown selfie

February 9, 2016: "What's a Sister Lofthouse?"

Hello Family and Friends!!

Its been great week! Even though there has been some difficult times, I know that God has always been there and aware of us. I'm grateful for experiences that help me learn and grow. Plus its been a great week because of the many weird/funny/crazy things that have happened. So I'll start my email with those. :)

Crazy Story #1-
One day this week we were walking down this street and we saw this lone man waiting at a bus stop... He was across the street but we were like "Talk to Everyone!" so we went over. There was another lady down the street a little more so Sister Unwin went to talk to her and I stood next to the man at the bus stop and said "Hello! How are you today!?" He turns and looks at me and said in not the nicest of tones, "DON'T YOU SELL YOUR RELIGION AT ME! YOU'RE DISGUSTING! GET AWAY FROM ME!" I was in shock... I had never had anyone call me disgusting before.. I like to think of myself as pretty cute. :) Haha but my pride did get to me a bit and I made Sister Unwin wait for the bus and the guy wouldn't even stand by us to wait for it. He crossed the street to wait at a totally different one. It was a first on my mission!

Crazy Story #2-

We were riding the skytrain and Sister Unwin was sitting by a man and I was standing a few feet away. And the guy leans over to her and asks, "What's a Sister Lofthouse??" She just burst out laughing and was able to share the Gospel because of it. :)

Crazy Story #3-

We were walking down the street and this old Asian man was standing outside his house so we tried talking to him! But he didn't really understand us so he just laughed and started throwing peanuts at us! They were really yummy peanuts too. :) Haha

Crazy Story #4-

As we were walking outside of our apartment one morning Sister Unwin tried saying hi to this one lady that always wears a blue hat and scarf. The lady didn't give her the time of day. Then as we were coming home for the night we were crossing the street with her. Sister Unwin leaned over to me and said, "talk to her!" So it did! And she just gave me and angry look! Apparently I heard Sister Unwin wrong and she said to not talk to her... haha. Then the next day we were coming down the elevator of our apartment but we realized we forgot something and needed to go back up. So the doors opened on the 1st floor, and guess who's there? Yes. Blue hat and scarf lady... She got in the elevator and we tried to explain that we needed to go back up so that it wouldn't seem weird that we were staying on. She didn't even look at us but she handed us a little note! I was trying to keep my laughter in the whole time! She got out and we read it and it basically said not to even say hi to her, that she doesn't talk to Mormons. That was the 1st time on my mission I got a note like that! Hahaha

Crazy Story #5-

We were teaching a less active yesterday at an A&W and the less active was just pouring out her heart to us when all of the sudden the older Chinese lady walks by and burps right in Sister Unwin's face like it was nothing... Our less active goes on for a few more seconds and then we all just burst out laughing!!!

Now lets get on with the more spiritual part of the week. :) On Wednesday we taught Elisabeth and Roy the Law of Chastity. It was a pretty good lesson and they loved all the blessing we told them about from keep this commandment. They told us they were planning on getting married in August so we committed for them to pray about moving it up a bit so that they would been able to be baptized sooner. A couple days later when we called them, they said that they decided they are just going to go to an Anglican Church which is close to them. We were a bit sad and asked if we could see them another time. So we saw them that evening. We had a plan to to help them understand more the importance of the Restoration but thats about it. They have been so diligent about reading the Book of Mormon everyday so we asked them about it, and they said that it was hard to understand. So we start talking about the spirit and receiving a witness and we asked them what they expected it would feel like. I will never forget what happened next. We started going into the 1st vision. I recited it in Joseph Smith 's own words and all of the sudden it was like the spirit was there. It was intense. I fell like if I put my hand out I could literally feel it. It was testifying to each of our hearts right at that moment that these things were true. That the message of the Restoration is absolutely true. Roy had tears running down his face and we testified to him that what he was feeling was the Spirit of God. It was the most intense lesson I have ever had.  They are still deciding what they will do. Please keep them in your prayers!

Also this week we got to meet with Elisabeth and Roy's next door neighbor, Darren. He is about 50 and has cerebral palsy. He let us in and is really nice and funny! He says he knows God id realy becasue he is a witness. His life is a miracle. He was born 2.2 lbs. Has we were talking with him in his home he told us about his life and his faith and it was amazing. As he was just talking it was like he was quoting Book of Mormon scriptures. He had a Mormon friend in highschool and he always loved to be in her home. He is really spiritual so super truth seeking. He was going to come to church on Sunday and he really wanted to bare his testimony... But he got sick.Please keep Darren in your prayers!

Also this week we were texted through so contacts in our phone and we texted this one named Jet. Who has been telling us she has been in the hospital for the last month. But she finally told us we could come and visit her and she told us her room was on the 8th floor. So we went to the Hosbital and got on the elevator and see the different floors... We saw that the 8th floor was for TB patients... No wonder she has been in the hospital for so long! We still go up and when we visited her we had to where a fancy mask. Jet is super sweet and is from the Philippines. She is so open to the Gospel and we taught the Restoarion and she committed to be baptized! I laughed a bit when we were teaching becasue I saw how ridicous Sister Unwin looked and pictured myself looking the same way. Also keep Jet's health in your prayers! But she is doing pretty good. :)

I lvoe each week of my mission so much. There really is never a dull moment here in Vancouver! No matter what happens ther eis always hope. "And we know that all things work togehter for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... If God be for us, who can be aganinst us? Who shall be against us." God love us. We can show our love to him through our faithful servce. I lvoe you all so much! Hopw you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

View from Stanley Park

View from Stanley Park

Visiting Jet in the hospital

The Dark Side is Better

February 1, 2016: Vancity

Hello Family and Friends!

Its been another amazing week in Vancouver!! Apart from it raining all day everyday, the Lord has been so good to us and we have seen so many blessings and miracles. Plus the city is just an adventure everyday! :) This week me and Sister Unwin were talking down a busy street in downtown and this homeless guy sees us and says, "The dark side is better, honey." We just kept walking because it was so hilarious! :)

Elizabeth and Roy area couple we are teaching. They live right next rood to a recent convert in the ward. They are so humble and open. They read two chapters of the Book of Mormon together everyday and are already up to 2 Nephi 21. It was pretty funny because last night we went over to have a little Book of Mormon read with them and we just planned to read the chapter they were on... Well we didn't know they were on the Isiah chapters! So we read another one. But they are doing so well and are opening up a lot more with us. Book of Mormon = Conversion.

Cool miracle. So we got a text from other sisters saying to contact this lady named Jwan who met Sisters in Abbotsford. So we did! And we met up with her. And it turns out that Sister Schroeder actually talked to her a couple weeks back and wrote our number on a pamphlet. Jwan was going through a hard time and gave it a call. Then she turns out to live in Vancouver so the sisters gave her number to us. Our lives in Abbotsford still lives on! Jwan is super sweet. She is a about 50 and is from Iraq. She has a pretty solid concept of Jesus Christ and is looking for a lot of peace right now. She is in hard living conditions and her husband has passed away. So she is sooo prepared for the Gospel and it will bless her life so much! She committed to be baptized at the end of the month!

Cool miracle. The other day we were walking down a busy street and I am still working on how to stop people to talk to them when they are walking the other way as me... But I saw this black woman and I really wanted to talk to her and she stopped!! She shared a bit about the Book of Mormon and she just up for meeting again! Her name is Antoinette and a few days later we got to meet up for a lesson at the church. She said that she hasn't been to church in about 10 years from when her sister passed away. She was confused and had lots of questions that she didnt fell like were answered. She said about a year ago she met Elders on the street but never actually sat down to talk with them. She said that when we spoke to her she took it as a sign that this is what she needs! She is also super prepared and we just testified of how the Gospel will help her and how the Book of Mormon will answer the questions of her soul.

Cool miracle. The other evening we went on a short little split with the YSA sisters here in Vancouver because double booked ourselves with appointments. So I head to downtown for a lesson while Sister Unwin stayed at the church for a little ward BBQ that we had an investigator coming to... So we had a good lesson in downtown and the sister I am with is new to Vancouver as well. So the member that came with us took us to the train station but it was a different one than how we got there... But on the walk we saw a cosco!!! So we had to get a hot dog... then we got on the train and had to go and catch another train to get back to the church. As we get on the second train I sit down in front of this man and he said "Hey Sisters! I'm a member!"  So we chatted with him and he was telling us of his bad addictions and he was just so amazed that we ran into him because he was on his way to Seattle and just 30 minutes to meeting up he was praying and telling God that if God wanted him to change the pathway of his life that He would put someone in his path to help him. Then then we walked on the his train and sat right in front of him. he said that he would be contacting Elders wherever he ends up. God is real. He loves us and answers our prayers. Its amazes me when God uses us to answer the prayers of one of His children.

Cool miracle. Sister Unwin had a dream a few nights ago that we were walking down this dark neighborhood and from the dream she remembered the street we were on. So we looked on the map of where the street was and it was in  a place we call "The Insert" because it is an insert of the map. Haha. But we planned to go there and how things worked out we were there at night. It was a little scary but its such a good residential area with lots of middle class people. :) We knocked some doors and the miracle was that everyone was so nice to us even though they weren't interested. Yesterday we had a little of time to go there but we weren't sure it would be worth our time because of the long bus ride. So we prayed and still felt like we should go! So we did! On the 3rd door we knocked at we met a super cool woman, Laura, who is interested and invited us back on Tuesday! She is the reason we felt prompted to go there! :) God is so aware of us and the people in Vancouver. :)

Its been an amazing week. "By faith men may bring thousands of souls unto repentance."I have been reading about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's in the Book of Mormon and I think Alma 24 is my new favorite chapter. These people, these recent converts, were truly convert to the Lord. They were fully committed, they loved God, and they were kingdom builders. In Chapter 24 every time they mention God they always mention how great he is. They knew truly the great blessings God had giving them that they could become converted to the Lord. They had no desire to sin. They even buried their weapons so that it wasn't even a choice anymore. As the Lamanites came to war against them they did not fight because they had so much faith in the Lord, that all would be okay if they were killed. 1,005 of these people were slain and they were praises God as they perished. "But behold how many of these have laid down their lives ; and we know that they have gone to their God, because of their love and of their hatred to sin." Because of that act more than a thousand of the Lamanites were converted.  "And thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people." I love you all. I love my mission. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

January 25, 2016: "It's my first time on the bus!"

Hello Family and Friends!! 

VANCOUVER!! I love it! Lots of people. Lots of buildings. Lots of smells. And lots of miracles. :) Its a beautiful place. :) Sister Unwin has taught me the big city ways and it's been a blast! On my first day here we got to ride the bus! I was a little nervous but so excited! I got on and it was pretty crowded... So I was standing and I really wanted to talk to someone so I just looked at the lady sitting closest to where I was standing and was like, "It's my first time on the bus!!!" She must have not cared that much because she didnt say anything back. Hahaha it was hilarious. :) I have gotten better at starting up conversations now. :) 

I will share just a few cool things that have happened this week. :) There are a lot of Filipino's in the ward here and one evening a single mom invited us over for dinner. She has two room mates living with her that are not members. We were hoping they would come out during the dinner... Then one came out and sat and ate with us. I had a huge feeling that we needed to teach the Restoration so I pulled out a pamphlet from my bag to help Sister Unwin get on the same page and we taught it and it was amazing! She goes to a different church but she committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! That was my first member visit in the ward and its already looking great! :) 

Me and Sister Unwin have made a goal to use the Book of Mormon and make it a center of our teaching. We went and visited a recent convert in the ward, Maria Rosa and her husband, Patrick. Patrick is actually blind and is investigating the church. He is so sweet! He has a desire to be baptised but he has anxiety to leave the house if no one else is home because of some robberies in the past. But for the lesson we read to him The Book of Enos and it was probably the most powerful Book of Mormon read I have had on my mission. :) We asked Patrick what does his soul hunger for and he said forgiveness and peace. The lesson was led by the spirit and we were able to help Patrick identify the spirit for himself. It was great! Please keep Patrick in your prayers. 

Then we had a lesson with another investigator, Patricia. Patricia has been taught for the past transfer and has been to church about 6 times. She also has MS and grew up Catholic but hasn't thought about religion a bunch since she was little. We again taught her from using the Book of Mormon. We read Alma 7 and talked about the atonement and then transitioned into baptism and we explained that our purpose is the prepare people to be baptised. Then she told us that she would do whatever we told her she needs to get baptised. So we were like okay!  :) She set a date to works towards! But yesterday she didnt end up coming to church. Please keep Patricia in your prayers! 

On Saturday we really wanted to find new investigators. We had a lesson at the church with recent convert who never actually showed up... But while we were there waiting for her the phone at the church rang... So we answered it! It was actually a YSA aged guy that wanted to learn more about the church and wanted a Book of Mormon. He said he could met right then so we met and taught him the Restoration! Then later in the day we planned in faith a lesson at the church at 3... So right before 3 we were walking to the church and right out front a lady was walking down the street and we started taking to her. She accepted our invitation to give her a church tour! It was a miracle and we were able to see her again yesterday. :) 

It really has been a great week. :) Last night President Burt's kids spoke to all the missionaries in the Lower Main Land and had a little fireside. One of the sons shared that on his mission he learned that if you want to be an amazing teacher, you have to love. That is what I have learned from Sister Unwin. It might just be her cute little English accent but she can make anyone feel loved. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."- Thomas S. Monson. This morning I was reading in Alma chapter 20 and  the whole reason that Old King Lamoni wanted to learn more about what Ammon taught was because "he saw the great love he(Ammon) had for his son Lamoni." Faith, hope, charity, and love qualifies us for the work. Charity never fails. Lets let others feel our love for them. As we do so they will feel of God's love for them. I love you all. Thank you so much for all that you have done for me. It means so much. :) 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

Me and Sister Unwin

Vancouver :) 

January 18, 2016: I'm moving to Vancouver!!!

Hello Family and Friends!

 

Its been a great week in Abbotsford, but it was also my last! Saturday we got transfer calls and both me and Sister Schroeder are leaving the area. I'm being transferred to Vancouver 1st ward! I have always wanted to serve in Vancouver so its like a dream come true. :) I will miss all my friends in the YSA branch though...

 

We were able to meet up again with Moe. Who is that black guy I wrote about last time who loves Jesus Christ. We reveiwed the Restoration becasue we wanted to make sure he really understood. He had read the things we left in the Book of Mormon as well. :) We asked him if he believes the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored though the prophet Joseph Smith and he said yes. We also asked him if he believes the Book of Mormon is the word of God and he basically said you would have to be a fool to not think so! Haha. :)

 

Its been a little dry with lessons this week but we have been working and trying so hard! On Satuday we basically walked around the whole day and it was cool because lots of people recognized us and remembered who we were! Makes me feel good to see that we have some sort of influence on people that they rememebr us and want to come up and talk to us. :)

 

I have learned so much while serving here in the Abby YSA area. :) There aren't too many branch members, but the ones we have help us out so much! It has shown me what I want to be when I am back at home as a RM. The area has put a load on my shoulders where I have been able to get some spirtual traction! My testimony and confidence has grown so much while being here. I have learned a lot more about charity and and also humility, and relying on the Lord. I am thankful for this chapter in my mission and for the next one in Vancouver! I'm ready to sprint to the end. :) I love you all so much. Thanks for your love and support. :)

 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

January 11, 2016: "Jesus Christ? That is the greatest name of all time!"

Hello Family and Friends!

 

BC is amazing. I love being a missionary here. :) Its been another great week! Everyday is an adventure and a joy sprending the Gospel of Jesus Christ. :)

 

On Tuesday I was able to go on an exchange with Sister Mumford. We were in the tri a few weeks back so it was lots of fun! We taught this new investigator named Jesse who is a black guy so that was great! He had actually been taught by Elders a few years back but he thought that the Book of Mormon was all about Joseph Smith, but we taught the Restoration again and after understanding a little more about the Book of Mormon, he was really excited about reading it! Then that evening me and Sister Mumford were in this store for a few minutes and I saw this other black guy. So I went up and talked with him and he saw our tags and was like, "Jesus Christ? That is the greatest name of all time." So we were like "Yeah it is!" and started talking to him. He doesnt belong to a specific church and likes to learn and he set up a time to see him that evening without us even asking! So later that evening we met up and sat down, and it kind of seemed to good to be true. He was pretty chatty but we were able to share the message of the Restoration with him and during the first vision he was just like "Whoa!... Wow!... Whoa!" and he commited to read the Book of Mormon. It was really cool! It was a good day. :)

 

On Wednesday we were in Maple Ridge and we were talking to people down the streets and we met this guy named Kyle. He is confused about religion and has lots of questions, but was really nice to us. He said that Mormonism would be the religion he would be most likely to join because they are the least stuck up and that their teachings makes the most sense. We set up a return appointment. We had a good lesson. He is very spiritual and we taught the Plan of Salvation and he really liked it. We were able to answer a lot of his questions and he said that he really likes Mormons becasue unlike other religions who get definsive when he asks them honest questions, we just answer them. It was really cool and we are excited to teach the Restoration to him this week!

 

Saturday was our walking day so we were walking downtown and this car stops us asking if we wanted a ride. They are members from Alberta. So they take us over to the mall and we saw our former investigator walking down the street. He didnt hear us yell at him through the window so the members let us out and we literally ran after him for 3 blocks on the busiest street in Abbotsford! We finally just called him on the phone to have been turn around and we talked and walked for a bit. He has gotten weird veiws about the church and religion since meeting with him and he asked us weird questions and told us we were crazy to think that the Book of Mormon is actually God's words. I was able to testify to him of the spirit. That I knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God more than I knew he was standing in front of me becasue the spirit can give us a more powerful witness than just seeing things. He was speechless. Its sad becasue he has been justifying things becasue he wants to continue to drink and smoke. But it was a good chat and it was good to see him again. 

 

I am so grateful for my opportunity to serve as a full-time missionary. We were able to go to Mission Leader Council this week as well and a common theme that President Burt wants to be put into the mission's culture is "Teach repentance, baptize converts." We cannot convert people beyond our own conversion. My mission has literally changed my life. I had somewhat of a testimony of the Gospel before it, but now I feel a continuing conversion to the Lord and his teaching. Any honest seeker of truth can find a testimony and any honest seeker of truth can find conversion. True conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience. Faith comes by hearing the word of the God and responding to it. We receive a comfirming witness from the Holy Ghost as we accept on faith by willing doing right. Want to be converted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and find enduring happiness? Read the Book of Mormon and live it's teachings. It has converting power. I cannot persuade anyone to get baptized. But I can persuade them to read the Book of Mormon and that desire to be baptized will come becasue they will become converted. By the power of the Holy Ghost, I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is safey for our souls as we read and apply its teachings everyday. Thank you all for your support and your love. I love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

January 4, 2016: I met the Prince of BC!

Hello Family and Friends! 

Its been a SUNNY week here is BC! But that also means it's been pretty cold! Plus I was sleeping in my bed one night and woke up to an earthquake! I didn't really know what was going on because the people that live above us are always super noisy... So it just felt like they all just jumped at the same time and the house jerked.. It was kind of scary but I was really tired so I didn't think anything of it and just fell back asleep and then we heard about it the next day and it all made sense. Haha it was an adventure! I can now say I have experienced an earthquake! :)

This week we went on exchanges with the Chinese Sisters! I brought Sister Lin (who is a brand new missionary from Taiwan) to Abbotsford. She is great and so sweet! In the evening we saw Jasper! He just looks different and its the Gospel's light! He was telling us how one of his old friends was talking to him and telling him how the commandments are just restrictions but Jasper just testified that they are for our good and that they make him happy! Way to go Jasper! We have our new converts teach of the lessons back so that they can get the know them better. So he taught us the Restoration and it was super powerful! He read through the Restoration pamphlet and after each paragraph he stopped and shared what it meant to him and how he has come to know its true! The spirit was so strong! At the end of the lesson he was like, "I just want to share my testimony with everyone!" That is when you know true conversion has taken place. :) 

I also met the Prince of BC this week! We were talking to people at the bus stop and I go over and talk to this man that was wearing a suit and smoking. He was a little on the strange side but after sharing a bit about the Restoration he starting telling my about how is is cousins with Prince Harry and that he calls the Queen Grandma! He said that that makes him the Prince of BC! But he says that he pretends to be poor so that no one asks him for money. Seems legit! I met the Prince of BC right here in Abbotsford! 

Cool Black Man Story- On Friday we were driving back to the apartment and we were driving by the park by our house and we see this black man walking down the street. So I was like "Look! A Black Man!" And me and Sister Schroeder waved at him and kept driving. After making another turn we were like "We need to go back and talk to him!" So we rushed back and hurried and parked in the parking lot. But we were a little later than we thought and we needed to catch up to him. So we jumped out of the car and ran up to him. His name is Edward and he expressed that he has been going through some hard times because he has been unemployed for a year now. We shared Gospel truths and he wanted to sit down with us at a later time. We said a prayer with him right then on the street and after we ended the prayer he said "Hey this fulfilled a dream I had last night. I had a dream that I was walking down the street that these two women wearing black run up behind me and started talking to me. But once they started talking to me I woke up." We were both wearing black coats. Whoa! This work is the Lord's work. It was an amazing experience! 

We had another lesson with Jasper this week were we reviewed tithing and fasting. He said that he was excited to fast on Sunday! And he loves the blessings that come from the commandments. He said that whenever he feels temptation he just prays and reads the Book of Mormon and so much peace comes to him. We also gave him some Mormon.org cards to pass out to people and he accepted the challenge and said "I'm not ashamed to say I'm Mormon!" Man, he has so much faith! Later we got a text from him that said, "Never thought I'd be happy to see Saturday roll around again because I know church is on Sunday. From the video Hope of God's Light 'As if someone were telling me I was home, that these people were good and that I needed to be with them. That God was there, that he knew me by name and that he loved me." The next day he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. :)

I love missionary work. Even though it has it's ups and downs it is where I have found the most joy. "And this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; yea, this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extends towards me." (Alma 29:9-10) The Lord is so merciful to us. As I see others repent and come unto Him I am reminded of how much mercy and grace he has shown me. He has answered my prayers and I know that he is there and that he loves each of us more than we can comprehend. As we truly repent and come unto him we can feel that love more deeply. I love you all. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers. Have a great week!! 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse 

Lunch with the Chinese Sisters!

It was chilly is Chiliwack

Frosty Temple!

December 28, 2015: Brother Jasper Banh :)

Hello Family and Friends! 

Its been another great week in the country of Canada. :) We have been able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and share that hope with others. Also, we saw our friend Jasper get baptized. To say the least, we had a great week! :)

We had some really awesome lessons with Jasper leading up to his baptism yesterday. One night we taught him missionary work and it was probably one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had! We really wanted and felt strongly that he should commit to serve a mission. As we taught he expressed that he was a little nervous. We read bits of Alma 26 talking about we can do all things with Christ's help. Then we just bore powerful testimonies of missionary work and then he said that he has actually been thinking about serving a mission. And he committed to prepare! It was amazing! He texted us one day and said that he had been studying Alma 5 and he liked how it talked about a change of heart because he has felt that. So on Christmas we had a little lesson where we reviewed that chapter and read Mosiah 5 and talked more about the baptismal covenant. He was so ready and as we were filling out the baptismal service he agreed to bare his testimony at it! That night we got a text from him and it said "I feel like I used to be sacred of the dark, literally speaking when all the lights were turned off, but lately it seems that I haven't been anymore. I feel protected now. Thank you for taking the time to share the gospel with me, its really brought me peace, shown me forgiveness, taught me to take care of myself, to trust and believe and so many more blessings to count. I've been given a new start and a new family this Christmas and couldn't ask for anything more. Merry Christmas, Sisters!" Wow. That made Christmas for us!! 

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a baptism. It was snowing and it was so beautiful! Jasper was baptized right after the church service so that many of the branch members could stay for it. It was amazing to see all the support from the branch. :) The ordinance was beautiful and the spirit was there. Afterwards Jasper bore his testimony in front of everyone! Jasper said that if you asked him 2 months ago where he thought he'd be in two months he would have never said church. He said that 2 months ago he knew about Jesus Christ but now he knows Jesus Christ. He also said that growing up he never had much family, but now he has a new family. He said that the gospel has given him greater purpose, direction, peace and happiness to his life. He said that he has learned how to trust again. It was amazing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ literally changes us. "Hearts are changed through faith on His name." Its been a great blessing to teach Jasper and see his faith grow so much. He will do great things! :) 

I had the best Christmas of my life this year. And it was because I was in the service of the Lord. And when you serve the Lord you are blessed. I would say that one of the reasons I came out on my mission was because I was wanting to repay my Heavenly Father for His goodness that he has shown me throughout my life. But I have learned that you can never do more for the Lord than He can for you. God has been so good to me in my life and especially on my mission. I have seen weaknesses become strengths, trials become triumphs, and adversities turn into adventures.  I have received witnesses from the spirit here on my mission that I know that I wouldn't have gotten back at home. I know that God is our Eternal Father and that he loves us. He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoices when we do what is right. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. From living his gospel we find peace and happiness in this life, and joy for eternity. Christ directs his church today and he restored it trough that Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and has brought me so much solace on my mission. The work is the Lord's work. As we lose ourselves in it, we find ourselves and so many great blesses. God is so good. When I just think of his goodness I tear up a bit. Never forget that he loves you and is aware of you. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

Christmas eve selfie

Christmas Morning :)

On Canadian Christmas you get crowns

Jasper's Baptism! 

This is our neighbor, Mr. Gil! Whenever he sees us he gives up candy and tells us "I miss you too too much!" or "You are my true true best friend." or "You teach me English." He is the cutest and always brightens our days! :) 

Before going out for a few hours in the freezing rain...

After... lol

December 21, 2015: Feed My Sheep

Merry Christmas Family and Friends! 

I can't believe its almost Christmas! It doesn't really feel like it... It snowed one day! I have really missed the snow. Me and Sister Schroeder had fun with snow balls. :)  We have been sharing the Christmas cheer this whole week! One day we were walking out on the streets and this one homeless Indian man on a bike stops and talks to us. His English was really hard to understand and when he was sounding out Sister Schroeder's name, he gave up and just called her Sister Sacramento because he lived in California for a bit. We talked for a bit and he went his way. Later that night we were on that some street and we ran into him again. He had some coins in his hand and started to Jingle them. He wanted us to sing Jingle bells but we just sang silent night to his jingling. It was really fun/funny! :) 

This week we had a zone meeting all about the Atonement. Me and Sister Schroeder had the opportunity to do a training on teaching the Atonement to our investigators. It was a little intimidating because there were 2 zones but it went really well. We role played as if we were teaching Jasper the Atonement and we focused on asking inspired questions and it all went great! Plus we saw a Christmas miracle... I did not have the curse of the shaky voice!!! :) The atonement is real. :) It was also great because we were able to use that same lesson plan and teach Jasper that evening. We reviewed the Atonement with him and he had just watched a Conference talk by President Monson on the Atonement so it went great! He said that words like "faith, belief, prophets" didn't really mean anything to him before. But now they mean so much to him! Then Saturday night we were able to teach him again and we were reviewing repentance and he had just randomly read Alma 36 right before the lesson so he thought that was really cool. During this lesson he also said that the words "Feed my Sheep" has been replaying in his mind. We are going to be teaching him missionary work this week and we are super excited because we know he would be a great missionary! We are planning on taking a recent convert in the branch who has a mission call to come teach with us. :) Yesterday Jasper had a good day at church and and he invited members of the branch to be apart of his baptismal program. Plus, yesterday is passed his baptismal interview so he is all good to go for this Sunday! Jasper is so awesome!!! 

I am grateful to be out and about this Christmas in the service of the Lord. There is so much darkness and sadness in the world.. It can be a lonely time of year for some. Even though its dark and cloudy hear in BC, we have a light, Jesus Christ. "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." (Mosiah 16:9) What a great message of hope the Gospel is. I love the Lord. He lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer and its through him we can find a never ending hope and life. He is the head of this church. He directs it through His prophet on earth. We can know that by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. It contains the words of Christ. ``It speaketh of Jesus Christ, and persuadeth them to believe in him and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.`` (2 Nephi 33:4) I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and that you truly remember that a Savior was born and the ``immediate goodness of God`` and that it will cause you to ``raise your voices and give thanks to God.`` (Mosiah 25:10) I am thankful for God`s love and for his Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. Merry Christmas. :) 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

We wanted to make a Christmas card... So here it is. :)

December 14, 2015: Sikh Temple!

Hello Family and Friends!! 

Its been another great week. Time flies and I cant believe Christmas is next week! Its been a week of adventures and we are back in our Abby YSA area. :) 

Last Monday we went to the Sikh Temple that is right across the street from the Stake Center in Abbotsford. For those that don`t know, Sikh is the common religion in East India. We always heard you could just go into the temples and the would feed you so we decided to try it out. So we went with all the sisters in the zone! You have to cover your head so me all were styling nice scarfs and we just walked right in. Then we noticed that there were selves were shoes were... so we just followed the crowd and took our shoes off too! Then a nice Sikh man found us and said ``Food this way.`` They led us into a big cafeteria and gave us a huge metal tray and started filling it up with Indian Food! We all got our trays and sat down and then we saw a sign on the wall that scared us... It said ``No Leftovers.`` Uh oh... There was so much food! And we weren't sure what we were even eating. But it was all pretty good. :)   We were just so full! We weren't sure what else to do there and we felt awkward so we just left after that. But it was a cool experience and they were so nice to us there! 

Wednesday was transfer day and we spent a lot of the day driving around picking up sisters and getting them to their areas. But as a tender mercy of the Lord, I was able to see Sister McKee! This is her last transfer so Im glad I could see her one last time before she goes back to New Zealand. 

Jasper is doing great! This week we were able to teaching him the 10 commandments and the Sabbath day. We asked him what he thought the blessings were from Keeping the Sabbath Day holy and it was amazing. He just quoted what is right in Preach My Gospel! Then our next lesson we taught Temples and Family History Work and The Priesthood. We asked him if he would want a priesthood blessing and he said yes. The branch mission leader and some other men from the branch were in the building so we went and grabbed them and they came and gave Jasper a blessing. It was amazing! In it it expressed God`s love for him, that God was so proud of Him, that he didn't meet the missionaries by accident, and that God will need him to be an instrument in His hands to bless the lives of others. It was so cool and a lot of Jasper`s concerns were addressed. Then we had the adult session of stake conference right after that that we all went together for that. Jasper also came on Sunday and President Burt spoke and got to meet Jasper afterwards. The big thing at Conference was keeping the Sabbath day holy and Jasper said ``I was planning on going out and looking at cars today, but now I think I will do something different.`` He is so awesome! Last night we had another little lesson with him and we went over the baptismal interview questions with him and he passed all of them! Just a few weeks ago he wasn`t even sure God was there. But he has been experiencing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he has seen a change for the better. He loves the scriptures and just started at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and is already applying all of the stories to himself. He is on his way for his baptism on the 27th! He says its a great present from the Savior to be baptized so close to Christmas. :) 

The worth of every soul is so great. Because of a great worth of a soul, our loving Heavenly Father allowed Jesus to complete his foreordained mission to become our Savior. Jesus Christ yielded Himself to scourging, humiliation, suffering, and finally crucifixion because of the great worth of the soul. There is no greater expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son of God. We would never be able to be clean from our sins or break the bands of death. The requirement to overcome those things were fulfilled by the vicarious sacrifice of one who was sinless and who could therefore take upon Himself the sins of all mankind. I am so grateful for the great gift of the Atonement. Thank you all for your love support and prayers. I hope you can focus on understanding this great gift this Christmas. :)

Love,

Sister Lofthouse

Kitty and the Tri!
Sisters Schroeder, Mumford, and Lofthouse

Maple leaves in Maple Ridge. 

Me, Sister Schroeder, and the Sikh Temple!

Mt. Baker

December 7, 2015: Master the Tempest is Raging...

Hello Family and Friends!

 

Its been another super busy week as a tri! But I am sad to say it is our last week. We got transfer news! Me and Sister Schroeder will be staying in Abbotsford YSA and Sister Mumfor will be getting a new companion for her area. :)

 

Jasper is doing AWESOME! This week we had a lesson with him where we just read 1 Nephi 8 and talked about the tree of life. He loved it! We also asked him what he thought the "mist of darkness" was and he got it! Temptations. He also watched the mormon message called "Hope of God's Light." and he really liked it. He said that he is no longer looking for a sign if God is there. He also went to institute this week and enjoyed learning about the Old Testament. Then our next lesson we taught him of tithing and fasting. He has so much faith! He accepted it like that and wanted a tithing slip right there! He has been reading the Book of Mormon daily and is now going to start from the beginning. He watches mormon messages online and then looks up all of the scriptures they use afterwards. We gto a text from him this week that said, "Really liked Genesis 19 where lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt." He is on fire with the Gospel! He even fasted with us yesterday. :) Its amazing how God prepares the hearts of his children to receive the message of the gospel. :)

 

It seems like we are teaching a lot of people without a Christian background. We have Linda from Korea, Allen from China, and Minh from Veitnam. Minh's lesson was really cool because as we were starting to teach the lesson he actually asked the questions of "Where did we come from?" "Why are we here?" and "Where are we going?" so we went right into teaching the Plan of Salvation and he was so interested. The Gospel answers questions of the soul! Linda is the home ward area is also progressing super well. Her english isn't the best but she is the cutest and sweetest thing out there! She has been praying for the first time and she says, "When I play... I feel peace-poe." Or... when she prays she feels peaceful. :) Haha. And that Church makes her happy. She also was saying how she feels that God put us in each others paths. It's true. I love being on the Lord's errend. :)

 

Last night was a super big wind storm! We were running a bit little getting home after a lesson and we needed to drive from Langley to Abbotsford. We were going on some back roads so make it across town faster and just in front of us a tree fell down in the road and the car just a couple cars in front of us ran into it... All the cars behind us were just in a hurry annd backed up to turn around. We turned around too and but got out to see if they were okay. A lady got out of the car and said everything was okay and that the fire department were coming to help. She was a bit frazzled and she let us say a paryer with her. We wished we could have stayed longer with her but we had to just give her our number and told her to call us if she needed anything. She was so grateful. Again, it felt so amazing to be on the Lord's errend.

 

I love being a missionary at this time of the year. To proclaim to the people here is BC that "A savior was born." I can't even picture life without knowing what Jesus Christ has done for the world os a world with out a savior. I have deep love for the Savior and for his supreme act of love, the Atonement. He is not just the Savior for the world, but for you and me individually. He loves the one. He goes after the one. He rejoices in the one that will come unto him. I lvoe you all so much. Thanks for all the suppot and love! Hope you ahvea  great week!

 

Love,

Sister Lofthouse