week 47

both Hermana Flake and i were heart broken last night when we got a transfer call :( we did NOT see this coming!! usually, when you are called to train, you train for the full 12 weeks. but i guess the Lord has greater plans in mind for the both of us, and the people we will be serving. they are taking my baby away! we cried it out and cuddled last night thinking of all our wonderful memories and miracles we have shared. i will miss her so much. i have learned a mountain being with her for these past 6 weeks, but i know she will work miracles in her new area! my new companion is Hermana Ridgway, and we will be staying here in Mississauga Spanish. 

we had an AWESOME week!!! we finished out strong. we had several awesome lessons, and although we have been struggling to find new investigators, we have a LOT of potentials right now, and most all of them are families. we have seen miracles finding these people, and now we just need to teach them :) 

i can't even tell you how grateful i am for the wonderful members here. i love them so much! the biggest reason i love Mississauga, is them. so i am so happy i am staying here. they are so wonderful to us. we had dinner this week with the Gundakers (who are moving to Utah soon! i am so happy!!!!) the Arguetas (who are moving as well. i will miss them.) the Saint Amours (the greatest Mexican family in the world) and the Hernandez family (they are amazing. their testimonies are so strong!) i know none of you know who these people are, but they mean the world to me. 

the twins came to church yesterday!! and they LOVED it!!! we have taught them quite a bit, and they are just soaking it all in. they loved Sunday School and Young Womens. they want to get baptized and go on a mission so bad! they are so special. i love them so much. yesterday was such a joyful day, all because of church. i bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting about these scriptures:

Mosiah 3:7-10

7: And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and abominations of his people.

8: And he shall be called Jesus, Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning;

9: And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name, and even after all this, they shall consider him a man..... and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

after all he had done, the miracles, the healings, the teachings, establishing his Gospel, setting a perfect example, they shall cruicify him. as i read this scripture while partaking of the Sacrament, i couldn't help but be so overwhelmed at the love Jesus has for me. i know He is my Savior and Redeemer. i know He loves me perfectly. i know this is HIS restored Gospel, and i know He leads and guides it. i felt so close to Him. i KNOW the Atonement is real. it truly carries us. i have felt it so strongly on the mission, and i know the Savior never leaves my side. i love verse 10:

10: And he shall rise the third day from the dead;

HE LIVES! oh how sweet, the joy this sentence gives, i know that my Redeemer lives! and how grateful i am to always have Him, and the power of His atonement at my side. it has changed me. 

we also had a super awesome lesson with the Neves family. (Portuguese) we had members with us that spoke all 3 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese) haha so it was quite the lesson. we got their kids to read out of the children's Book of Mormon, AND to pray! Valesca (the mom) cried so much. all the kids go to Catholic schools here, so when she saw her daughter pray from her heart instead of the memorized prayers she was so happy, and said that has been her dream. ALL she wants is for all her family to accept the Gospel, to be baptized, and to go to the temple together. Eric wants it too, he just wants to know for himself its true, of course! Joel (the son, 9) asked us "when can i be baptized?" and we said, "whenever you want!" and he runs over and picks up the Book of Mormon and starts reading :) so cute. they didn't make it to church yesterday which was sad.... esta bien! we will be skyping at their house for Mothers Day on Sunday :) i can't wait to talk to you my wonderful family <3 u="">

Luz went to the temple! Saturday was so special. she was so happy and absolutely LOVED the temple. she felt the Spirit so strong! she got to be baptized for her Grandma :) she cried so much. i was so grateful to be there to witness that. here is this amazing faithful woman, who was pleading with God to help her find a church that she knew was for her. 1 week later she ran into us in the elevator. she accepted a baptismal date and was baptized 3 weeks later... and 1 month after that here she is in the Temple doing names for HER family!! missions are amazing, and i love seeing the Gospel change peoples lives. the names were also done for her dad and grandpa :)

man that was a long email! lots of great things going on here, and the weather is SO nice! while Hermana Flake was packing today, i gave her ALL my thermal tights. haha good riddance.... i can't bear to put those babies on again. i am SO happy to see the sun. i love this Gospel. i love being a missionary! SO MUCH. i love being here, i love serving the Savior, i love the Spirit and the miracles we see everyday. i hope you all have an awesome week :) talk to you Sunday!

XOXO, HERMANA HORTON