Cheerio, London!

Cheerio, London!

To start off some quick shout outs!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the card and the cash! That was too kind of you and I soooo appreciate it! 

Thanks to the Roberts family as well! I have played the card over and over again cause it just gets me every time :) The gift was also SO generous and it will go to good use!

MOM AND DAD! WHOA! Way to spoil me! I loved the balloons and the bracelet (mom where did you find it?!) and all the other stuff :) 

Thank you to everyone who sent me an email as well :) I really do appreciate it! 

A special shout out to Taylor Mcdonald who is preparing to go on a mission! I am SO proud of everything she has over come to get to the point that she can go out AND she is going to absolutely KILL it wherever she goes :) 

We threw down on Scott this week. I told him that he was trying to serve two masters and that he can't do that. He can't be for God on the weekdays and party hard with the boys on the weekends. I looked him straight in the eye and told him it comes down to eternal life or eternal damnation and that the choice was his. After I said that he ran inside to grab something and I looked over at Sister Shurtliff who was just kinda staring at me and said: "Too bold and not enough love?" She just nodded her head and laughed.  

- also thank you so much Brother Vance for the advice! It is very wise and we will heed your council :) 

So Chris has been doing absolutely incredible! We taught him this week about repentance and it was the best lesson on repentance we have ever taught! We started out by reading in Alma 36 which is when Alma shares his conversion experience with his son Helaman. We highlight the verses that talked about the total despair that Alma felt when he realized the many sins he committed, "That the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror." We asked Chris if he has ever felt this way and he said that he had. We shared that we all go through times where we have those feelings but that there is hope. We then shared the verses that talked about how he felt the forgiveness of his sins through Christ. We testified that we can all receive of this great blessing in our life IF we chose to repent! The spirit was really strong and we went on to describe the process of true repentance. He was very engaged and asked lots of good questions. We talked a little about why he was excited to get baptized and he mentioned how he wanted to be the priesthood leader for his family and I just about died of happiness. Chris will for sure get baptized on the 15th and I am SO excited! 

Next is the Ellis family! Oh my heart and soul do I ever love them! I wouldn't be surprised if in the pre earth life we all hung out. This week we went over for dinner again and we were talking about transfers and joking around about me leaving. Odessa who is 5 got all sad and said that I was her missionary and that I couldn't leave! My heart melted. I can feel the spirit more and more every time we go over. The family has been pretty good about reading and praying as a family however we still haven't been able to get Brother Ellis to say a prayer for us. But we will get him ;) I asked Brother Ellis if he was planning on bringing his family to church on Sunday when he told me that they would be in St. Thomas that day for a family birthday party (he was looking pretty pleased with himself for thinking he was getting out of church). Good thing they have a ward there! I told him I'd be sure to give him a call and see how he was enjoying stake conference and he had a good laugh. Right before we left we suggested that Brother Ellis put the kids to bed and Sister Ellis come out with us to listen to James Taylor and the MTC. Sister Ellis got a smile on her face and said she was in so we went out and had a girls night. While we were out Sister Ellis confided to us how much Brother Ellis enjoys it when we come over and gets excited about feeding us :)

The Ellis Family 

Me and Odessa

Fast forward to Sunday 

So the broadcast is done and we are walking around and who do we see!? The whole Ellis family standing at the back of the gym. My heart nearly burst with joy! They postponed their trip for a few hours to come to church :) In such a short time I have grown quite attached to this family. We were also talking about post mission plans with them the other day and Sister Ellis made a suggestion of the family doing a road trip out to visit us. 

I know that they will be sealed in the temple soon! I can see the spirit working with Brother Ellis to soften his heart and I am so excited for when he can take his family to the temple. I really felt like I was meant to meet this family and help them to the temple..... that is until I got a call last night. 

So I got transferred. I leave for Guelph and I am devastated. I sent Brother Ellis a text and told him we were going to come over to see them on Monday night. I told him I'd need ice cream and he asked what kind was my favorite. I don't know why I'm leaving. I really thought I was meant to continue working with the Ellis family. So sure in fact that I had already come up with some new lesson plan ideas and a game plan to get them to the temple...

I'll also be missing Chris's baptism :( 

I know that everything happens for a reason and I know this was inspired. I just dont understand why.

I don't like ending on a sad note though so I will tell a funny story about how I accidentally participated in a drug deal. 

So this guy comes up to me on the street and asks if he can use our phone to call someone for a ride. He looks a little rough and I'm affraid that he will run away with the phone. I contemplate my ordeal in my head and realize that I'm representing Christ and he would help the guy out. After an awkward minute of silence I say sure and hand over the phone. This is the converstation I hear:

Guy:"Hey I've got the stuff to pay you off.... Yeah I'm at the cornner..... Ya I have everything you asked... the cd player, the blue Nike womens shoes, etc..."

- I take a peak in the bag and sure enough all these things he lists off are there.

He finishes up on the phone and deletes the number he called and gives it back.... I don't really know what to do so I give him a card and tell him to check out the web site. 

Oh London East how I will miss you!

Took a long time today to get this all out so I dont have much time left but have a wonderful week!

Sister Hall

At the park with the Chines

Notice my fat lip? We figured I needed some more street cred... and now I get transferred. Worst timing ever!