I Have A Belief

I Have A Belief

What A Stinking Awesome Week!! 

Shout Outs!

Thank you to the Canyon Creek YW for the chocolate and Happy Birthday to my dear Aunty Wendy!!

So I guess the biggest news I have for everyone is that Ian got baptized!!! Thats right, Ian got baptized on March 1st :) It was quite a crazy road getting there but also an experience I will never forget. So the first time we were able to see Ian was on Wednesday and we had gone a whole 2 weeks with just texting. When we talked to him about where he was at, he confessed that he still didn't feel ready. We started talking with him to see what his concerns were and he told us that he still felt that he needed to have at least a 50% belief in God before he got baptized..... we pondered on this for a moment and realized how Ian had been mislead. I cant believe we didn't catch on to this sooner but thank goodness for the spirit AND Steph and Rach. We started to teach and testify to Ian that God does not expect us to have a perfect faith or even a faith that is near perfect. He asks us to have the faith the size of a mustard seed. We talk about this subject for a while, then Rach and Steph talked about how somedays their faith is at an 80% and other days it is at a .02%. This caught Ian's attention he stopped to think for a few minuets and then asked us what the difference was between the statement of "Do you believe" and "Do you have a belief".  That was the key... that was what was holding him back. It was how the baptismal interview questions were worded! When we told him that he could answer the questions, "I have a belief in God", his face light right up. To him, "Do you believe in God" implied that you had a certainty above 50%. That night we set up an interview with him for friday and then the next day he would get baptized.... Most last minute baptism ever!!! 

At Ian's baptism he got up and bore his testimony. He talked about how he realized that it was a greater act of faith to be baptized not totally convinced that there was a God than if you had a stronger faith. He talked about how he received a confirmation during the talks that he was lead to this church for this day, to be baptized. He also said how every excited he was to receive the Holy Ghost. He talked about how he had noticed in his life that when he felt the Holy Ghost it helped him to make better choices like doing his homework instead of watching a movie. He knew that having that constant companionship with him would be a huge blessing to him and would help him in all aspects of his life.

....where the heck did this guy come from?!?! I dont even know if I can recognize the spirit that well! It has been so incredible to see someone who struggles with his scepticism put that aside and take a big leap of faith. I can already see a change in him. He is opening his heart and is working on how he defines himself. He no longer wants to refer to himself as a sceptic but as a believer.When he received the gift of the Holy Ghost he had the biggest smile on his face and later described it as the most calming feeling he had ever felt. He is stinking awesome! 

Ian! 

On another note, Shelby is wonderful :) She has been sharing the gospel like crazy with her friends and roommates. We have already taught 2 of her roommates and she has been right there and has taught and testified right along side us. It is SO amazing- I mean we have only known her for 1 week! We had to move her date back just a week because she wasnt able to make it to church this weekend and she was so sad! I honestly have never met someone so prepared as Shelby is! She has been our little gift from Heavenly Father :) 

We had to move Shelby's bed..... such a gong show! 

This week we also took Jake out street contacting :) We had meet up with him at Tim Hortons and challenged him to come talk with people on the street with us. He took our challenge but as soon as he got outside he started to get cold feet. We tried to get him to contact someone but I think it was a little much, however he stood by us with THE biggest smile on his face while we talked to people. Then during testimony meeting he got up and talked about how he went out with them missionaries and how intimidating it was. He didn't think it would be so scary talking to strangers but he just couldn't do it. Then he went on to talk about how ever since that experience he hasnt been able to stop thinking about all the people who pass him by who dont have the gospel and how we need to be sharing it with those people :) He is going to do great things! And yes we are taking him out again. 

Line of the Week

Sis Taylor: "How many cars have you high jacked?!"

Will: "Ya well you know..."

Sister Taylor: "Cause I've done at least 3!"

Will: "Oh ya!? Come on whatever!!!"

Sister Taylor: "Ya just stop, I am WAY more black than you!"

-> I just about DIED laughing!

Scripture of The Week:  3 Nephi 12: 20

"Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Sister Hall

Y.O.S.O 

This is me and Sister Hillman! Her family was in the first ward I served in out in Hamilton. She got called to serve in Spain but is waiting for her visa so now she is serving in Down Town Toronto!!! It wsa so cool to see her cause we used to take her out with us all the time

Me, Elder Kunz, and Sister Taylor