Final Days

Dear Family,

I feel like this last week was a blur, but I'd rather have it be super busy than having the week drag on and on.  We went on two exchanges this week and I was exhausted.

My first exchange was with Sister Shumway - she's in our zone and she's from Clinton, Utah.  She has never taught an investigator lesson so we were pumped that we had two set up while we were together.  The first one was with Terry and Solomon....except that they were not home.  Sad face.  We got a text from them later that evening saying they had some urgent business to take care of downtown.  Thankfully the next day we still had our appointment with Rebekkah.  We read a chapter from the Book of Mormon and talked about faith.  She's so smart!! We asked her what she felt faith was and Rebekkah said faith is a mutual trust between us and God.  God trusts that we will follow His commandments and be obident and we trust that God is there and will guide us.  Something like that.  We also stopped by a semi-active member and Sister Shumway totally busted out a scripture that she had read that morning.  I was so proud or her! She's amazing - I know that she's going to do great things on the mission.

We had a lesson with Mike...thankfully we had members with us so we were able to get in and teach him.  It seems that he is hiding behind something - he has a very strong testimony, he just doesn't want to show it.  We're guessing because he's further along than Mary is.  We had a nice little discussion with him and then we took the dogs on a walk...in our skirts haha.

We then had exchanges again and I was once again downtown....haha.  We had dinner with a recent convert from the YSA ward, Jesse.  As we were driving their Sister Burr told me that he's a vegan...great....yeah vegan food.  So, we prayed that we would be able to handle whatever he fed us...and he took us out to Mucho Burrito!!!! Ha! Prayer works. ;) Funniest part of the night...he kind of looks like Christ...minus the tatoos and the huge gages. :) I guess he was driving home from church one day and he stopped at a stop light and a man in a wheelchair was rolling by and he did a double take and yelled, "Jesus! Where have you been my whole life!" hahaha. Jesse decided that it is probably time for him to cut his hair.  Good times, good times.

The Shakleford's are back in town...but we are going to have to work with the members to get us in with them.  They had company coming when we stopped by and we invited them to church since I was talking...but Kris didn't seem super enthused about coming. :( And we had no investigators at church.  It was a little heartbreaking - but a nonmember showed up the last few minutes of sacrament meeting! One of our ward missionaries told us about her and said that she was willing to meet with us...once we can get a hold of her.  I guess she needs a new living situation - so she's moving to East Calgary....but she came to the bishop for help! Her heart is softening.

The Lord has really helped me this week.  I have been reading scriptures that is helping me cope with coming home.  Sister Burr asked a super inspired question while we were together.  She asked, "do you have any regrets on your mission." I paused and realized I really don't.  The regrets I do have were out of my control and there is nothing I could do about it.  That was such a nice realization that I am HAPPY and SATISFIED with my mission.  I'm excited to go to the temple this week and get a spiritual confirmation that Heavenly Father has accepted it as well.

I feel that I need to leave some awe inspiring words of wisdom....but what to say? I am amazed and how much I have learned and overcoming on the mission.  I truly stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.  It's wonderful that God took my desire to serve a mission and to help bring souls until Him and molded me into what He knew I could become.  God's grace is sufficient for each of us to help transform us and to overcome weaknesses.  Christ's love and Atonement are real.

Love you all so much!!!!

-Sister Josie Douglass

Another Adventurous Exchange

I'm going to post the last two letters from my mission. Enjoy! :)

Dear Family,

I feel that this week was a little crazy - but overall pretty good.  Tuesday was Sister Spencer's birthday - which was really fun to celebrate.  She's the big 22! Oh boy do I feel old hahaha just kidding! I love that our birthdays are exactly a month a part - wait - crazy that my birthday is in less than a month! Ahh! I'm on the verge of an Old Maid in Mormon standards haha.  We celebrated with the Krawchuk's and you may have seen the pictures that she posted on facebook.  Good times.

Wednesday we picked up a new investigator!!!! Rebekkah Zaugg - I think I talked about her last week.  She's our ward mission leader's granddaughter.  Her younger brother sat in for part of the lesson.  He didn't really want to listen, but I know the spirit touched him a few times during the lesson.  Rebekkah accepted everything and wants to learn more.  I had a really neat experience - definitely teaching by the spirit.  I was talking about how the gospel blesses families and I never know what scripture to share.  Helaman 5:12 came into my mind as Sister Zaugg was sharing how the gospel has blessed her family.  It was really cool!  We set up another appointment with her on Saturday so we were able to teach her twice.  Our second appointment was a little rough.  We could tell that something was a little off as we were teaching the lesson, but I wasn't sure what it was.  She started crying when we talked about the Celestial Kingdom - and then the concern came out.  We invited her to pray about being baptized on August 31st and she isn't ready.  We kept trying to reassure her that we are not mad or disappointed with her for not wanting to be baptized that day.  We both felt that she almost wanted to drop us, but she is still willing to meet with us.  We're going to take it a little slower and just read the Book of Mormon with her and break the lessons up into smaller principles.

Dinner was with a very sweet Filipino family- the Aquino's.  I was a little nervous because they said they were going to feed us Filipino food - but it ended up being normal food. :) So I was able to handle it.  We got Brother Aquino to sing for us and oh my, he is incredible!!!!! My jaw just dropped as soon as he started to sing and both Sister Spencer and I looked at each other with a "can you believe this" look.  They told us that their eldest daughter is struggling with her testimony.  When it came time to give the thought I really didn't know what to share - so I flipped open my scriptures to Omni 1:26 (I think) and I shared it with them and promised them that no effort goes un-wasted and that the Lord knows their hearts.  Again totally lead by the spirit.

We both felt that we needed to stop by Terry and Solomon since they didn't come to church.  We got offered non-alcoholic wine...okay it was only 0.05% alcohol. I love them.  Sister Spencer and I cannot remember the question she asked it was totally inspired and she was lead by the spirit but it helped them to open up and tell us what some of their concerns are.  They think that we worship Joseph Smith so we tried to resolve that concern and we told them that they will understand our doctrine a lot better if they will allow us to teach them.  They were super hesitant, but they finally agreed! We will be teaching them tomorrow!!

Now for the moment you have been waiting for - exchanges.  I was nervous about going to the East Side of Calgary with Sister Gonzolaz but I knew things would be okay.  As I was driving to Sister Gonzolaz's apartment she told me that they have heard gunshots for the past three nights.  Great- little white, blond Sister Douglass serving in Sketchtown Calgary.  haha - thankfully Calgary's ghetto is nothing like the states.  We were going back to our apartment at the end of the night and....the lock is stuck.  We were trying not to panic, but I wasn't sure what to do.  We silently prayed and their neighbor came out and tried to help us unlock our door to no avail.  Perfect - it's getting dark outside and two young women and locked outside of their apartment in the hood of Calgary.  Do not hit the panic button.  We prayed and we felt that it would be alright to head back to my place and have a sleepover with our companions.  And that's just what we did.  I think it's dangerous when I leave my area - something always seems to happen. We both felt that Heavenly Father didn't want us there that evening.  We were expecting bullet holes in our apartment - but no we were able to get in the next day and nothing was damaged.  Good times.  Don't worry - I was never in any danger.  It was really fun serving with Sister Gonzolaz - she is amazing! I bet she will be a Sister Training Leader some day.

We had a Bocce tournament this week.  Sister Spencer and I almost won the trophy - sort of.  We lost our first game - but it was close 10-9! It was a great activity and Heavenly Father heard our prayers to have nice weather and a good turnout!

Love you all a lot!!!! I'm going to have an amazing last full week this week! Don't worry - I'm always in the middle. :)

-Sister Douglass

Abide with Me‏

12 August 2013

I honestly don't know where this last week went.  We had dinner with the Krawchuk's last Monday.  It was Ella's Birthday and she specially wanted us over for dinner.  She is a sweetheart.  We had CRAPES! Yummy!!!! It was amazing! She also wanted Cinnamon rolls instead of a birthday cake - needless to say I was in Heaven. :) After we got home Sister Krawchuk told us that one of Ella's cousin's commented that we weren't what he was expecting of missionaries - we were "normal". hahaha - yeah! Planting seeds by being examples - I love it!

We had a pretty good lesson with Mary last week.  It started off a little rough - distractions and we could tell she was a little off, but as soon as we sang a hymn it really helped to invite the spirit in.  We focused on prophets and why we need them.  We did this really cool visual and it made something "click" for Mary. :) We asked her about being baptized and she said that she is not there yet.  Some day- she will be.

Wednesday was Zone Conference - yeah! Sister Spencer and I sang "Nearer my God to Thee" and Elder Blackham wrote the arrangement.  He's a musical genius! We are planning on recording it today or tomorrow.  It's an amazing arrangement! Be excited! It was a little sadden during the Conference because it hit me that the end is coming soon. Sister Doty and Sister Harris kept telling me that I cannot leave and they are super sad that my time is about up. Ahhh!!! They are sooooo sweet!  We actually did weekly planning with them this week and they are AMAZING! Sister Training Leaders in the making. :) I love those Sisters so much!!!!

We went to YW's and two of the more less active girls came!!!!! We were super ecstatic to see them! Then on Thursday we were able to get in with one of them and we had a really really good lesson with her.  We tried to emphasis that people in the church aren't perfect, but you come to church for the Savior, not for people.

We went on exchanges with Sister Egbert and Sister Heslop.  I was with Sister Egbert - we were in my last zone together - so it was a blast.  She's amazing and super sweet! Sister Spencer and I felt that we should stop by Terry and Solomon that evening - so Sister Egbert and I did.  I LOVE THEM! They had company so we didn't stay long nor did we get a chance to share a message with them - but her friend was asking about missions and their little boys were ADORABLE! They kept showing off to us - these three year old boys were trying to break dance.  It was soooo cute!  We walked Mike and Mary's dogs- which I was a little scared of - just because walking three dogs is a little intimidating. Thankfully Heavenly Father heard our prayers and the dogs were very very very well behaved and we didn't have any problems with them.  We got in with a family that the ward has been concerned about.  I was just praying to know what we should share with them and we watched the Mormon Message "Mountains to Climb" which was PERFECT for them. :) I love it when I am in tune with the spirit.

Sunday Sister Spencer and I sang in sacrament meeting :) We sang "Abide with Me" - interesting how that was the song that Naomi played at my farewell - but I love it.  None of our investigators came to church :( we were both a little bummed about that...but what can you do?

That evening we felt that we needed to stop by one of the ward missionaries and ask them to come with us to our lesson with Mike and Mary on Tuesday, but they were not home.  While we were driving over their we saw some members out on a walk.  Since the ward missionaries were not home we felt that we should go and visit them instead.  It was a nice little visit - nothing spectacular - but who knows, maybe they needed it and that's why we were directed to go there.

I hope this week is amazing for everyone!!!! Loves!

-Sister Josie Douglass

The Lord ALWAYS provides‏

7/29/2013

This week has been absolutely splendidly incredible!!! We have been seeing miracles left and right this week.  I don't even know where to begin?

We stopped by the Messengers on Monday and we met the 13 year old son.  He is a sweetheart! His mom had just gotten home and she was asking who was at the door and he said, "People from the Book of Mormon church!" :) We stopped by the next day and just missed his mom again.  He said that it's really tricky for both of them to be home at the same time.  We asked him about meeting with the missionaries before and he said that it was good and he likes what we teach.  He knows that the gospel is true! We still feel so very strongly about them being baptized this transfer.  We LOVE THEM SOOOOO MUCH!!! We were persistent this week about stopping by every day until we met Kim, the mom.

Tuesday we went on exchanges. But right before we went on exchanges we got a referral from the Gutierrez family!!! I will talk about that later on.  I was with Sister Harris in her area - very very south Calgary in the Foothills Zone.  She is adorable! I just love her! I felt an instant connection when we got together.  We loved telling stories and learning from each other.  I taught her something that I learned recently - the power of promising blessings.  I did it at dinner and she was blow away.  I told her as missionaries we have the authority to promise people blessings - and if we have the faith - it will happen.  I told this family that as they studies Preach My Gospel they would find help with doing missionary work and Heavenly Father would help them with their desires to bring people closer unto Him.  Side note- this family has THE COOLEST House.  Secret rooms....enough said.  It was amazing.  Any who, Sister Harris ate up this principle and used it on me a few times.  She promised me that I will have a baptism before I go home.  It was super cute!

Then we Sister Spencer and I were reunited she told me that her and Sister Doty picked up two new investigators!!!! They stopped by Higgin's neighbors, the Shackleford's and they let the Sisters in.  They had a good visit and they are willing to take the discussions! I feel really good about them!

Since we are over seven companion ships we ended up going on exchanges again this week. :) I stayed in the area and Sister Blommaert was with me.  Sister Blommaert is from Edmonton.  It was really neat to hear her story and she has a really good attitude about serving only three hours away from her family.  Homesickness is a challenge that she is dealing with off and on, but she loves serving in Calgary.  She loves theater :) so that was super fun for me to just talk about.  I love her so much too! I know that we're going to be buds after the mission. :) It was a really good exchange - even if plans so of didn't go as I had hoped, but it was still great.

The referral from the Gutierrez is Terri.  She said that she would be willing to met with us and we set up and appointment with her.  She had to reschedule - but Terri said that she would come to church on Sunday. What!? We were thrilled!

At the end of the week we finally were able to get a hold of Kim Messenger.  Oh my, it was probably the biggest heart break of my mission.  As we got talking she said that they were attending the Alliance church and she felt that it was the best fit for her family.  She loves the members and good things are taught with our church, but she felt a little out of place being a single mom.  But, we know the spirit was really working on her.  We invited her to look at her options and let us teach her again...but she said that they are good with where they are at.  It broke our hearts.  We just poured our hearts out to her and told her how much we love her.  After we left and had a good cry we both feel that we need to go back and read in the Book of Mormon with her and see where that takes us. It was a huge blow for both of us because we are both so invested with the Messengers and we both put so much into them - and then things didn't work out....heart broken...

But - after each trial of our faith the Lord provides a miracle.  We were sitting in our car before church when Terri sent us a text.  She told us that her and her son and husband would be coming to church!!!!! And they would be the new AFRICAN family! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! We were freaking out for a good five minutes.  Oh my I LOVE THEM! They came to church and the talks were perfect! The ward members stepped up and greeted them.  Terri and Solomon said they felt very welcomed and the messages where very straight forward and focused on the family - which they loved.  We forgot to mention that church is three hours- but they are planning on coming to church next week!! They liked it and want to learn more!!! So many good things to come. New Investigators for the week: 4!!! We were super happy!!!!

Any who- this week is going to be great! Love you all!

-Sister Josie Douglass