We had a very inspiring zone conference this week. Our mission leaders saw a presentation of projected new stakes and temples for the North America Northeast Area. Our mission is in blue at the top of the pictures. No potential new stakes or temples.
The top picture is what our mission leaders saw in the presentation. The bottom picture is their dream. They encouraged all of us to "dream dreams" and "see visions." (Joel 2: 28) With our dreams, there will be two new stakes in the Canada Montreal Mission--one each in Ottawa and Quebec City...
and three new temples, one each in Ottawa, Quebec City, and New Brunswick!
Why not?!?
This is God's church and HE can do ANYTHING!
We also watched a video where Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
"Whatever you think this church is going to be, it's going to be a LOT more than that! It's the ONE THING that I know for sure is going to succeed. I'm not sure about economies. I'm not sure about politics. I'm not sure about businesses. I'm not sure about universities or hospitals. I don't know what's going to work and what's going to fail. But I know ONE thing that's GOING to work. And I know one thing that is never, ever, EVER going to fail. And it is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And so we're supposed to dream our way to the finish...all the way to the end."
We also watched a video where Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
"Whatever you think this church is going to be, it's going to be a LOT more than that! It's the ONE THING that I know for sure is going to succeed. I'm not sure about economies. I'm not sure about politics. I'm not sure about businesses. I'm not sure about universities or hospitals. I don't know what's going to work and what's going to fail. But I know ONE thing that's GOING to work. And I know one thing that is never, ever, EVER going to fail. And it is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And so we're supposed to dream our way to the finish...all the way to the end."
You can watch the powerful clip here.
The bus says "Happy Holidays!"
I fish tailed my "blue sleigh" out to my Mandarin elders' apartments a few nights before Christmas to deliver packages that their families had sent.
I'm sad that most of our missionaries had to wait until zone conferences--AFTER Christmas--to get their Christmas gifts.
I love this little 3D nativity that one of our elders designed!
It will be part of my Christmas decorations forevermore.
Sixty-four degrees inside my apartment. And I don't have much of a heater. Lots of sweats and blankets when I get home from the archives.
Luckily he joined us for Christmas dinner. We had a fun gathering. We enjoyed yummy food together then watched the Christ Child video and talked about its significance for each of us. And our Muslim friend "sang" us a verse from the Qur'an. Then we played games together. We were lucky to have two young elders with us. I love being with our young missionaries.
The day after Christmas one of the members of our Mandarin branch invited me to join a HUGE feast at her house! Look at all of that meat! And there were seven desserts on top of that!
If we stay focused on our purpose, this can really happen!! In 2022, our mission had 212 baptisms. In 2023 there were 429. And we had 677 in 2024!! In reality, I should say that Jesus Christ gathered that many people to Him in Eastern Canada and He allowed us to work with Him in the vineyard. What a privilege for us!
I've never been one to get too excited about numbers. It's PEOPLE that I really care about. And these numbers represent all of the people in eastern Canada who are being gathered into God's fold. This is the hastening of the gathering of Israel that we're seeing happen right before our eyes. And we are so blessed to be a part of the greatest work that is happening on the earth today!
We had a white Christmas! But it made driving a little sketchy.
The bus says "Happy Holidays!"
These two sent me a voice message that is among my most treasured Christmas gifts this year. Young missionaries rock my world!!! They are so good to me. And I am continually in awe of their devotion and stamina. Should I mention that it's been really, really cold here? Like the high for the day is around 10 degrees F. And they just keep going out, looking for people who want to come closer to Jesus...because they said they would when they accepted their mission calls.
My cute friend who is from Algeria is moving in a few weeks. He's been a maintenance man in our apartment building. Now he's ready to go out on his own and start his own business. I'll miss him.
Luckily he joined us for Christmas dinner. We had a fun gathering. We enjoyed yummy food together then watched the Christ Child video and talked about its significance for each of us. And our Muslim friend "sang" us a verse from the Qur'an. Then we played games together. We were lucky to have two young elders with us. I love being with our young missionaries.
The day after Christmas one of the members of our Mandarin branch invited me to join a HUGE feast at her house! Look at all of that meat! And there were seven desserts on top of that!
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