October 28, 2013

Yes Sister Keeler is training for her first time as well in Newfoundland, she has been in the same area- Bay Roberts her whole mission and she and Sister Broadhead are STL for Newfoundland. 

 

SO my new companion is Sister Aslett she is from ENGLAND and she is 24! I was so excited when the assistants called Weds morning and told me they met my comp. and that she is English I just about died of excitement ! Hearing an English accent all day is wonderful!

 

Our apartment is on the 5th floor of apartment building, has two rooms one for our office and for our room, small kitchen and table haha nothing special! I can take pictures?

 

So this week has been a week of a few set backs but it still had some other wonderful things happen as well! 

 

So Di that guy who wore Jewish robe ended up basically anti'ing our investigator who was coasting to baptism for Nov 22, very frustrating and sad and Jesse is left very confused, we haven't been able to see Jesse since Weds. The Elders are going to stop by his dorm and talk to Jesse. And (investigator) started smoking on Wednesday and went on a downward spiral pretty well. She wants to be baptized and believes and wants to changed it is very sad to see how certain substances just bind people down from reaching their fullest potential. But I know that this is the adversary trying his best as the time comes near to these two peoples baptismal date and I have faith that things will work itself out. When situations like this arise I know that we have set an inspired goal of 9 baptisms in this ward before the new year and that as we are obedient optimistic and have faith God will lead us to those that are ready and inspire us on how to prepare these souls for baptism. 

 

We actually went to (investigator) yesterday and I walked in and there was weed on the table and cigerattes and her friend was there and I just walked in looked around and looked at her and said " what are you doing?! You think THIS as I pointed and looked around , is going to bring you happiness?! I really layed the law down and for about an hour was lead by the Spirit completely as to what to say, but I basically just said to her that she is worth so much more than all this. It was quite a spirit filled lesson and we all were tearful and she wants to change, she suffers from depression and its a tough road shes on but I know we would not of met her now if she couldn't change. I am so grateful for the experiences I have been through because I truly know that through Christ we can do all things. I was able to share some scriptures of strength. It was funny while we were there I looked her friend in the eyes and said to him " are you willing to support ...? will you not smoke around her and do this outside" then I talked about how important it is to have friends that fill in the potholes in our road not make pot holes. I was very bold but it was needed and I know how important it is. Missions just prepare for motherhood that is forsure! haha.

 

Things with Traci is going absolutely wonderful! She is on a cloud with this gospel!! Her best friend is a member, her and Traci are just loving the Book of Mormon. - That is the absolute most important thing getting them grounded in the BOM and understanding that any question they have can be supported in the BOM and that every answer they get from it can be prayed about to know if it is true. We are able to talk and invite many people this week and I feel we will be able to find some solid investigators this week!

 

We were able to pick up a couple this week in Windsor, Gage and Amanda; they had a baby 5 months ago. Funny thing is for the last few weeks Sis T and I have always seen them in Windsor walking around and they will be on the opposite side of the street etc. and we are always like dang we need to stop them!!! Finally With Sis A I was able to! We taught them and turns out his mother is a LA member! They all came to church Sunday! So we are working with them and hope to help them have the blessings of the gospel in their family.

 

So Transfers were on Thursday so we drove to Halifax on Thursday, Sis Aslett and I were able to go and see Erica in Halifax and have a lesson with her that was wonderful! Then Friday morning we left Wolfville at 7 am Sister Aslett and I had to drive back to Halifax and go to the mission home...

since I am now a STL we recorded videos which will be used for training for the zone conferences this week and well forever be showing new missionaries in their orientation etc.(talk about pressure!) President Leavitt has started this new thing where we are recording videos and he shows them for learning. We recorded two videos one on "How to talk with real people" and the "Book of Mormon." So the first video is focused about talking.  PL felt as we are focusing so much emphasis on talking to everyone, we want to have successful conversations with the people we stop, not frantic awkward bombarding the gospel conversations which most missionaries have haha. So at this meeting it consisted of the assistants, halifax zone leaders and Sis A and I. We had a group discussion on what we feel needs to be taught to missionaries that can help them have more natural conversations, talking slow, introduce, be open, real share info, ask questions, sincerely listen, invite. Basic things that when in the moment with nerves most missionaries will forget, so afterwards we recorded a discussion about that and that turned out well it was great because Sister Aslett was able to talk about how as a new missionary it is that way and then we all discussed how we can train our selves to be better. 

 

Then the second video was about the Book of Mormon and how important it is to have our investigators know how to find answers in it themselves and become grounded in it so that the BOM is their backbone not us. This video consisted of Sister Levy (who is a convert), me, Elder Jarvis(ZL) and Elder Zozeewamee(assistant) and President.  So PL started with Elder Jarvis asking him to share an experience about an investigator who was grounded in BOM and how that changed things for him, he shared a great experience.  Then President was like Sister Pizzey - could you tell of a personal or mission experience that the BOM has played a big role... in my mind I was like nooway  i am going to share my conversion from BOM on a video that will be shown forever throughout the mission.  I literally was planning on talking about Robert (convert from PEI) but as the time came for me to speak my mouth was filled with sharing my experience with the BOM; I talked about how the BOM truly changed my life and how for me I had negative feelings about the church and concerns and how 1.5 yr ago when I felt like I needed to go back to church I decided to read the BOM and how the BOM literally resolved all concerns and questions I had and answered what no person ever could have.  It was quite powerful and not expected.  The way I explained it was a way I never had before it was definitely the Spirit, then Sis Levy talked about the role the BOM played for her as a convert. It turned out to be a wonderful video but now will be played throughout the whole mission and used forever President Leavitt said haha or at least till the next mission president chooses to not use it anymore, so that is kind of nerve racking!

 

So this Weds we will all be watching ourselves on the big screen at zone conference won't that be a treat ;). 

 

Anyway the Elders are having 2 baptisms this Sat.! Which makes 4/9 ... 5 more to go! and I know we can make it !! " For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37!

 

I love being a missionary, I love serving others, and I love this gospel so much!  I feel so inadequate to this call but it really is amazing to seeing the enabling power of the atonement - the Lord will truly qualify us in our callings, He will make up for the rest after all we have done! I love it and I truly am seeing the enabling power of the Atonement everyday in my life as a missionary, the things we do aren't natural or possible without the grace of God.

I want to do my best and be the best trainer I can and STL, I truly was prepared for this from serving with Sister Thompson, Sister Aslett is great.  I am going to help her feel confident and see the joy in this amazing life changing work.  Her and I are getting along great and I just love her english accent. I just am very focussed like in studies its silient and I am full heart and mind in studies, those first 3 hrs are so important in the morning it truly starts the day off good or bad, and some missionaries I feel ditty dattle during studies and waste time and don't realize how much more meaningful it could be if they just FOCUS so I am going to help her with that as I did with Sister Thompson.  With Sis A I want to help her heart be in the work as well and just to forget ourselves and go to work! 

 

I love you all!
It is so crazy that fire in the neighbourhood! I am happy you are all safe and sound.

Love,

xoxo

Sister Pizzey

October 21, 2013 - "I'm staying in the VALLEY!"

So Transfers update drum roll please!!!....

Well mom you will be happy to hear and well the subject to this email pretty well explains it I am staying here in the Wolfville in Kentville ward!!! I am taking on a leadership position as the "STL" so Sister Training Leader for the Nova Scotia South zone (my zone). Which consists of the Halifax sisters the Halifax family ward sisters and the Halifax YSA ward sisters. Those Sisters are; Sister Lee (I was in the MTC with) and her new from MTC companion and Sister Laxton (who I served with for 4 days in a trio) and her MTC new companion. And I as well will be training a new missionary coming from the MTC as well!! AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TRAIN!! Bring on the greeny fire!! I love greeny fire and I hope I still have it and if not I will repent and keep this mtc trainee's fire with me- she better be ready to have no meal breaks cause that is what I have done my whole mission!!

 

SO STL requires me travelling and visiting their area for 24hrs once a transfer and training them, calling once a week speaking to sisters together and separately and helping and training them but also growing together as I will be learning just as much as them if not more! Then as well Elder Prince informed me that every Sunday evening there is a conference call where it consists of the zone leaders, district leaders in the zone and me... the STL, I laughed I was like okay so whole bunch of elders on the phone, then me!

Elder Sloan is leaving to Moncton, New Brunswick as he has been here for 7 months, Sister Thompson is going to Amherst Nova Scotia where she will be completing the last 6 weeks of 12 week training for a missionary. So there is a new zone leader in our zone serving with Elder Prince that is coming from Newfoundland-Elder Becker. SO there is your transfer update!

 

I am very excited for this and I know this goal will require me to stretch and grow and raise the bar; I am grateful for this and I am going to do everything in my power to train my new comp. to the best of my ability and welcome her into the best 18 months of her life the very best way possible!!! And as well train these other sisters. Its nerve racking and well I know that as I stay humble and pray always and do my very best the Lord will qualify me and these new sisters coming into the mission field as there will be 7 new sisters this transfer.

 

This morning we had a wonderful meeting over Skype with President and Sister Leavitt, the 7 sisters that will be training and the assistants. It was great I am looking forward to what lies ahead! A few words that were shared from President and Sister Leavitt that I wanted to take the time to share- they just gave me goose bumps!! Sister Leavitt mentioned on how, from their Mission President training that they attended in Philadelphia it was talked about from Elder Nelson (Quorum of the 12) that this time, RIGHT NOW with the surge of missionaries, this is a crucial critical, memorable time of Church History almost as important as the First Vision.  The church is drastically changing as more and more missionaries are out all over the world serving the Lord, bringing forth the truth and that the Lord has truly prepared us in the pre-existance for THIS TIME right now.  There is a reason and how we are very special to the Lord because he sent us and prepared us to be missionaries at this time.  President Leavitt added to her comment and said "yes”! And just how Oliver Cowdry said many times in the Doctrine and Covenants referring to the days when he and Joseph Smith were translating the BOM that "these are the days that will never be forgotten" and that this is the very same for us missionaries right now that THESE are the days that will never be forgotten!"

.... That just gave me chills during the meeting. Just reflecting back on my past 5 yrs, I just cannot grasp it, but to think how I was really planned to be here right now.  It truly is a miraculous thing and I feel so blessed that the Lord is so merciful!  ... I owe everything to Him for this.

 

So this week was amazing; we picked up 8 new investigators, but by the end of the week - 2 of the 4 dropped us but its okay we have two solid investigators that are on date, totalling a 3 of investigators including our stellar investigator Kate!!

 

So let me go day by day again:

 

So Monday night we had Dinner with the Burgan's with Kate that turned out great!! They were able to share their conversion story and we watched Pres. Uchtdorf’s Sat. morning conference talk. Then we went to teach a potencial lesson from a door we knocked into but they weren't home, so we continued to knock the area.  We came across a lady whose 38 yrs old, her name is Sally.  She was crying when she answered the door, her father is dieing from cancer so we testified to her and so forth , we actually helped her take her garbage out and then we went inside and talked with her.  She is a single parent of 11 yr old named Jane and it turns out Sally's parents and herself were baptized into our church when she was 13 yrs but they were only active for 6 months. So we testified to her and had a great spiritual lesson, she is quite hard in heart at the moment but I have faith as we continue to meet with her it will soften.  But crazy thing is at that very same time - the Elders by fluke received her mother (Terry) as a referral from a member. Sister Horton a member met her at the laundry mat a couple weeks ago and they have become friends.  Sister Horton understood that Terry's husband was dieing, little did she know that Terry actually is a LA member from years ago and niether did the Elders know until we called them that night! It truly was a "intervention" from God to that family... basically him yelling at them for what they need aka : HIS CHURCH! So we will be working with them; crazy things have happened more with them with us bumping into Terry later on this week as we were prompted to just stop by Sis Hortons house one day as well.

 

Tuesday: We had district meeting in Bridgewater which was good then we went into Windsor it was nuts!!  Windsor is our sketchy area to serve where just alot of low quality of lives there; and as we have set our goal of 9 baptisms we are just finding so much more potential!  We were able to find 6 potentials that actually all weren't the "typical Windsor person" and find more success in our day there than ever before for us. We felt prompted to knock into Nancy and we actually put her on date, she lived in Taber and had nothing but good things to say about the church, but unfortunately she ended up dropping us end of the week over phone. We had a wonderful lesson with her but the adversary got to her and well agency.

 

Then Wednesday I cut Tanya and her daughter Lilya's hair (Elders Investigator who will be baptized Nov 1) She’s amazing, she has a two year old.  She just got out of a bad marriage and moved to Kentville to get away. We actually went to a lesson with the elders one day, couple weeks ago and we were all standing outside the house waiting to get let in and Tanya walked by and Elder Prince was behind me and I looked at him and said Elder you should go talk to her, he ran down the stairs and talked to her and BOOM she is totally prepared and can't wait to be baptized this gospel truly is changing her life. The lesson that day that we all were there for actually cancelled and I feel we really were just there to run into Tanya.

 

Thursday we started teaching Tracey (Burgans member in the ward friend)  we had a wonderful lesson with her and we actually put her on date the next day for Nov 30th!  She can't wait and is loving learning about the gospel!! She is 30 yrs old and is awesome! We taught Patrick and John as well with a family that came and taught with us- it went great. Patrick wants to attend church and continue learning from missionaries in Jamaica he will actually be leaving this Friday home and I am excited for him! We will be teaching him and John once last time before they go this week!

 

Friday we actually ended up moving the Whalens (Erica and Matt) So they are now living in Cole Harbor :( but it is what is best for them, they have met with the elders there and things are going well. I will be able to go visit them when i go on visits with the sisters in Halifax.  We passed Brandon over to the Elders, that lesson went great and things will go great with Brandon. We did the Stop Smoking Program with Kate Friday afternoon at Sister Hortons house! It was amazing she is devoted and has quite smoking so far! Kate actually has a "this is a non smoking environment" on her front door of her house it is absolutely fantastic!!!

 

Then Saturday we were so blessed to have a completely jambed pack busy day because there was an University party weekend event. Where literally drunk partying 18 yrs olds and 20 yrs olds from 10 am till dusk all day.... hahah Sis T and I laughed and were like well that is the great and spacious building and we are holding to the iron rod! University here is like the Univeristy in a Hollywood USA movie university haha its CRAZY. But we started teaching the most humble guy named Jesse he is from China. We met him street contacting and I asked him if we believed in God and he said " No, but I really feel like there is a God I just don't know about him" We just smiled and were like well Jesse we can help you with that!! So we taught him about through Christ we can be cleansed from sins, faith repentance, baptism holyghost sacrament- not the usual first lesson but it was great he was all over it!! We commited him to be baptized fro Nov 22 and he can't wait to "be apart of Gods family" he said. He came to church on Sunday and he said he can not wait for next Sunday! A member will be having us and him over for dinner Nov 3! We will be teaching Jesse again tonight at 8!

 

We also met a Chinese guy named Di Saturday and we had a great brief lesson with him.  He has been a die hard christian for a while surprisingly, and we shared with him the BOM he was so STOKED!  WE had to run because we had the adult session of stake conference to go to that evening but he pretty well asked to come so he followed us there and was loving it!! He is really into praising God to the point where he pulled out this Jewish robe in the beginning of the conference where it wrapped all around his body, arms ,neck everything!! hahaha omg I was dying and of course he goes to sit down at the very front of the congregation.  Sis T sat with Kate and things were going great then all of the sudden Di pulls out this Jewish robe thing where he stood up and wrapped it around, everyone was like whaaaa??? I was dying inside/trying not to laugh/freaking out that he would stand up start yelling like weird Pentecostal stuff. Thank goodness he didn't but it was a good thing to look back on and laugh at. We passed him over to the Elders as well as we felt that would be best. But things are going quite well with him.

 

It truly has been a wonderful week, we see miracles daily!! I love the gospel I love the scriptures and I am so grateful to be a missionary!

I want to stay motivated and doing my very best as the week continues and transfers arise I will. I know through faith and obedience and prayer I can and that is only through the grace of God.

There is so much to work on and improve but so much to look forward to and be grateful!!

Every member is a missionary- and as you can see family missionary work is changing my life, but just because I wear a tag doesn't mean it can not do the same for you! Open you mouths and don't procrastinate the day of being a missionary because I can promise you great blessings are instore for you as you step out of the box!

 

I LOVE YOU ALL
xoxo

Love Sister Pizzey

October 14, 2013 - Fall in the valley is Gorgeous!!

Monday we had a lesson with Bailey over skype as he lives in Windsor (30 mins away) so to save on Km's we skype teach him then teach him in person once a week and that went great! I love his family so much! Then we had Hopes baptism interview we were just praying and fasting that things would work out okay for her health for the interview to happen and it did!!

Then Tuesday we had the District leader and his companion on a visit in our area for the day (something that happens once a transfer) And that went really we well it was during an awkward time of the day (10am-3:45).  We mainly street contacted and did finding, then taught a lesson to Allen our recent convert.We found this SOLID potential- this man who was a disfellowshipped JW (Jehovah witness- because it parents got a divorce) we approached him SC(street contacting) and he is SO prepared.  He said that yesterday him and his wife were saying how something is missing, and how life is so easy to forget to centre our lives on God and BOOM we meet him, he is in Florida till Nov 1st but will be teaching him and his family then.  He can't wait, he actually asked us to go see his mother while he is gone... and we did she wasn't interested but its okay she will be one day when they are members! just give us 5 weeks ;)!! Tuesday we actually fasted with (investigator) because of their finance problems she was rather stressed and had no idea if they need to move back to Halifax or stay here in Kentville.  We explained how fasting would help so we fasted with her and had dinner planned for us to come over and break our fast together.  Erica is hilarious the whole day she was txting us counting down the hours till she could eat, she is quite comical.  So before we headed off to Erica's at the end of our visit with the Elders who serve in Sackville, the District leader was like "to be honest I feel like I learnt more than you sisters did today, just the way you talk to people is so real and the way you can build relationships with people it was really eye opening and after serving with you two it is very clear why your area is the top in our district.”  It was very nice compliment and I still felt like we learned at ton from them! Just serving with Elders for the day is nice because they do things differently than sisters and its nice to learn and apply in our area.  I feel so blessed to be serving and working with Elders especially the ones in the our ward, here they are just great inspiring missionaries. So tuesday night was like a "celestial" night it was just like an exalting night to be a missioanry, we go to Erica's have chilli break our fast, then teach her we watched Pres Uchtdorf’s conference Sat. morning talk then we sent that talk for Matt to watch and he watched it and loved it!! I was like "Erica...COME WE NEED YOU!!!" then we headed over to Kates to teach her and man oh man Kate is the definition of a celestial investigator!!! She is so prepared and every lesson its just a tear dripper!! I honestly feel like I was suppose to go inactive for a bit and experience that in preparation for the souls and people I would meet here right now on my mission. I am just so grateful to be here I wouldn't change these moments for a million bucks because I couldn't imagine not meeting and helping these amazing people I am teaching and helping them find salvation!! And I am learning soooo much from these experiences and have sooo much appreciation for all that I have been given! I AM JUST SO THANKFUL!!! (<--- that me wanted to yell this in excitement :) ) Seriously though like do us Pizzey's know how blessed the Lord has been to us?!? Sometimes I am just like wow!!! So Kate is progressing great and just loves this gospel, we are starting the "Stop smoking program" with her this week and if things go well with that we probably will move her baptism date up. She is just so great; we taught her the W.O.W this week and right in the middle she like wait stop, runs over and grabs a notebook and says carry on I want to write this down and writes down the 5 things we can not have in our bodies. She is really amazing and definition of one prepared investigator . Then we had a wonderful lesson with Hope that evening, Hope just loves me (I say this is the humblest way ) but Hope is a wonderful older lady and she says we’re the daughters she has never had, then we taught Bailey as well; I always bug bailey with this last name BRIGHTman. 

Then Wednesday at the old folks place we volunteer we made pumpkin people.... YES PUMPKIN PEOPLE! haha its hilarious this is something that I am bringing back to AB! Mom dad, brothers and sister’s this valley the town of Kentville at this time of year literally covers its self in pumpkin people it is the funniest thing ever!!! So I will be sending pictures.   Sis T and I are going after emails to take pictures with these pumpkin people, and we figured it would be a good finding idea take pictures for people in front of the pumpkin people... then they take pictures for us and oh yea we are from Ab... then they ask why? and then we are like BOOM because were missionaries! and then boom we will begin teaching them about the only true church! Then we went to Windsor taught some lessons, bumped into a former gator on the street and will be teaching her tomorrow, then we had a great lesson with Patrick (Jamiacan) and John (Barbadian ) I just love teaching them!! Patrick is having a hard time with the loss of his boys but they will be going back home in few weeks and both want to continue attending church and meeting with missioanries. Jordan Batemans first person he trained is actually teaching Patricks family right now. But John and Patrick finally had a day off from the slavery hours at the farm and were able to come to church yesterday! they enjoyed it!! I just love teaching them both we have great spiritual lessons but also some good laughs they are funny people. The elders were able to go and give Patrick a priesthood blessing last night.

Then Thursday we had some great lessons and were able to talk to 82 people, invite 82 people to learn about the gospel.  This week we were able to invite 273 people to come to the truth!! And out of those 273 were able to find two solid new investigators :)  1 being Brandon who we picked up yesterday, I am only on thurday right now I can't get ahead of myself ;)

Al right so moving on to Friday Oct 11th Hope Delight DeHamel's and Bailey BRIGHTman’s baptism!! Friday we were able to teach Kate, Erica and then weekly plan and fill the font.... hahha hilarious thing this time we had hot water this time!! So Sis T and I just filled the whole font up on  hot water but we assumed (never assume anything!!) that by the time the font would be filled that the water would be cold....well we were wrong!! haah and we did not check that, so when Hope went in to be baptised we had to wait 10 minutes to fill it with cold water hahaha it was very funny.  Apparently it was like BOILING hot.  Funny thing Hope was nervous for the baptism so we had to call Bro Drennan a huge muscular 30 yr old RCMP dad in our ward and ask him to baptise her it was a rather funny convo over the phone we had with him.  Explaining we needed him to baptise her due to his muscles.... haha awkward!! But the Baptism was magnificent! Sooo many ward members showed up and non members as well!! Kate was able to come and she loved it! People actually stayed till 10 pm socializing but we left at 9:15 to get home on time. But it turned out to be a sucess and got the ward excited! 

Then Saturday we had some lessons with people; some of who we did not pick up.  We taught a student at the Divinity School who was getting his masters to be a pastor so we showed him bible videos and he was in shock at how amazing they were, we did not pick him up because it would just be bible bashing.  We are not here to convince and persuade we are here to invite! Then we had the YSA dinner, and then Kate stayed for the activity, then we left to teach Hope. We tried the haircutting booth one last time before the weather gets bad (fall weather is so much nicer here) but wasn't too successful.  We packed her up and street contacted!! But the reason why we had the haircutting booth was because we met Brandon!! While we were telling me to come get the hair cut I came across Brandon and Brandon is 18 from Bahamas.  He actually when to a LDS church once at home with his father before his mother passed away 5 yrs ago, so we set up a time to come teach Brandon Sunday afternoon!

Then Sunday Hope and Bailey were confirmed! And we had 4 gators at church! We taught Brandon and boy oh boy he is prepared!! We started our lesson saying "How to begin teachings" from PMG and then afterwards I asked what were your expectations Brandon? he said... "Well I just want to be closer to the Lord and I know I need to make changes so I am hoping that from meeting with you today I can leave here knowing how I can do that" ..... I just stopped and starred with a grin and was like "Well Brandon we can do that for you!! haha . And God is aware of that desire of your heart and that is why we have met you!" We had a wonderful lesson and taught only the first half of the first lesson the Restoration, and we committed him to be baptised for Nov 1st and he said yes but that he is nervous to make some changes.  We asked for clarification on what that means and he said that he wants to centre is life on God but as horrible as it sounds he still has the desires to do normal College life things like drinking etc. I was able to testify of that area.. He is wonderful, he said what interested him about the Mormon faith is the fact how they are the only Christian faith that has another book of scripture and he felt its needed due to confusion with the Bible ....we are just like YES Brandon YES!!! I could write about him for hours to you all I am just so thrilled!! After the lesson I was trying to deceive myself like it says in James 2:22 by thinking "oh it would be best for us to teach him not the elders!"  But really after humbling myself and realizing yes it would be more effective for the elders to teach him; just like it is for us to teach Kate. But I kid you not Brandon will be on a mission one day!! But we will be passing him over to the elders this week! 

Then we had dinner at the Whyknots and the Macleods were there. They are two couples in the ward - the Macleods joined two years ago because of the Whyknots and they both are solid members so we had Kate with us for dinner.  It was a wonderful "fireside" pretty well; after dinner we had a great gospel lesson, we talked about everything with Kate temples, BOM and why we believe in the KJV Bible, to pre existence alot of hefty deep doctrine but the Spirit was just pounding the room and Kate was crying and Bro Whyknot was it was great! The Gospel was so true and- listen up all members doing things like that make such a difference!!! Like the things that were taught and the Spirit that was felt could never ever be possible for just Sis T and I.  It was only because we were in a members home and had members teaching with us! it was great.... so FAMILY: call the missionaries as who there top investigator is or who they are teaching.  As them who they feel would get along well with you and have them over for dinner :) I promise you that your testimony will be strengthened and you will be blessed!

Ahh well this is the amazing week we have been blessed with.  The Elder’s and Sis T and I sat down and remade a more realistic goal for the 9 baptisms we will have by now and the new year.  We have had 2 of the 9 and are willing to literally die and work our living guts out for this goal!! We as a group have been fasting much for this goal and know that if we do all we can it will happen! Our mission will be fasting as a whole for the goal of 50 ppl to be baptized as a whole by the end of a year!

We have much to look forward to this week. and oh yea Erica and Matt will be moving back to Halifax Nov 1st :( . But after her fast she feels strongly that is what they need to do. So will be teaching them till then then elders there will be teaching them!

Any ways this week has been a week of learning and I love this work! I was studying the atonement this week and read Isaiah 53 this morning its an amazing chapter to read with really explains the atonement well. Of course its a chapter that has to be studied it took me 45 minutes to read with really breaking it down and understanding what its meaning but read it is is wonderful! 

Have a great week and open your mouths and invite others and help the missionaries out!! 

I am so THANKFUL for you all and our wonderful family, have a great day together. I am so grateful to have a mother and father that focus so much on family activities it is such a blessing!! And I am so grateful for this gospel that makes us who we are!!

LOVE,

Sister Pizzey xoxox.

October 14, 2013 (Pics)

 Pumpkin people
decorate Kentville!

Hope a dear lady, her baptism!

Bailey's Baptism

October 9, 2013 - Pics (Some of the wonderful people Paige has got to know and love)

October 9, 2013 - Pics (some old, some new)

Good bye PEI!
Ferry ride to Halifax

 Lovely Sister Missionaries!





Paige with her recent companion,
Sis T, as Paige calls her.

 Fillling the baptismal font with boiling water
as there was no hot water in the taps.

One chubby cat!

Haircuts in the park day!  Looks who's wearing
Paiges tag ...

Alwlays time to look good!

 Paige teaching the sisters grooming tips.

SISTER'S CONFERENCE -
         WONDERFUL TIME!






Sister Keeler - Paige's MTC companion -
  So great to be together again!!

Mission President and his wife, President and
Sister Leavitt .... Paige loves them!

 Paige cutting hair, big haircut for this Sister!

October 7, 2013

So this has been another wonderful week!

I love your emails and I thank you for them so much, I have such a great family and so much wonderful support I love you all very much!

 

So yes we will be having two baptisms this Friday! And on Sunday it will be Sis T's and mine 7 month, crazy time does fly, 7 months sounds like a long time but this all hasn't even felt like 7 weeks. But having two of our investigators receive the gift of the Holy Ghost on our 7 month sounds fine by me!!

 

So this week has been amazing!!! Conference was amazing I LOVED it conference is literally like way better than the Oscars ever were as a missionary! I loved Saturday conference session! Uchtdorfs talk was amazing and sooo applicable for so many people we are teaching right now! I feel like an idiot I forgot my notebook from conference session and wrote down a whole bunch of talks that I loved that I wanted to share and talk about today! hmmmm :< well next week I will have to do that I am writing that down in my planner right now! Elder Ballard's talk was amazing, Elder Giff Neilson (I met him he toured with Elder Holland in April)  was wonderful of course, and of course Uchtdorf’s! But there was so many more and my memory is drawing blank! NEXT WEEK

 

SO we were able to have 5 investigators come to conference this weekend! And 2 non members I of which is a referral from a member who she brought to church and we will be teaching this week!

 

We had a wonderful week we picked up a investigator! She is prepared and is on date for Nov 8th we started teaching her on tuesday.  She is my age and is a recovering Narcartic addict, she has a 3 yr old and gave her up for adoption to her aunt.  Just a horrible horrible life she had, she has so much guilty feelings from her past and I feel I am here to teach her, we had a tearful first spiritual lesson where the Spirit was so strong.  She understands that she has lot of changes to be made but the atonement is real. She actually came to church yr a go and knows the addictions recovery couple really well.  She will be baptised I know it! My heart is just so full thinking of her! She reads the BOM a ton and loves it!

 

Erika haha I love her! We are teaching her more and will be fasting with her tomorrow and then having dinner with her and breaking her fast.  Her and Matt just love the Book of Mormon, yesterday we went to her house between sessions.  We showed up there at 4:15 and said we are going to conference and you are coming, she said she couldn't because her boys were out and she had no makeup on and keagan and isaac hadn't eaten yet.  So we told her to go get ready and that we would take care of her boys. So we went to search for them in the neighbourhood we drove around the neighbourhood two times, could not find then anywhere then said a prayer.  We then felt the need to drive once more then I spotted a bike on a drive way so we got out walked in the backyard of the house that had the bike BOOM we found the boys told them to race us back to home, so Sis T and I and Keagan a 6yr old and Isaac a 12 yr old all raced home, ran in their house, we fed them cereal for dinner and BOOM by the time it was 4:45 we all left to conference soundly and she was able to watch it and enjoyed it! Afterward we had a lesson with them and they did the nightly ritual where Keagan says the opening prayer then Erika reads from the children's BOM with them then Isaac says a prayer, then keagan then Erika did then I did then Sister T. It was amazing most Spirit filled thing on my mission. Power of Prayer is amazing. Hearing a 6 yr olds prayer is amazing Keagan said " and I miss you very much" in his prayer so amazing a 6 yr old understands that he once lived with his Father in Heaven- the gospel is SO TRUE the Book is blue brothers and sisters!!

So Baileys baptismal interview was a success on Friday! He is a stud and understands everything perfectly very bright boy and has a strong knowledge of the gospel through our lessons, reads the BOM and enjoys it. Hope will be having her interview tonight she was origanlly on Friday but she had a horrible health day and could not leave her bed. Some days her Parkinsons disease is horrible where she has to take 21 pills to help it.  She received a priesthood blessing yesterday and is feeling great today and ready for her interview tonight at 7!  I love her so much and she calls Sis T and I the daughters she never has had! 

 

Working with the Elders has been wonderful we actually made a goal during our Friday planning session that as a whole in Kentville ward we feel we can have 15 baptisms from now until the new year, its a stretch but we have alot of legit investigators 9 of which we feel that will forsure be baptized which leaves 6 more (3 per companionship) that we feel Heavenly Father has prepared at this time for baptism, we just have to find and teach them! We have faith and a day after we set that goal President Leavitt informed us how he set a goal of 50 baptisms as a whole mission before the new year so our plans were inspired and right on track with PL.

 

We really are working on effective goal setting and planning and it has completely changed our area!! Our Keys our solid number where each key indicator literally represents a soul! It is amazing and I know that much success will come from the change of planning. 

 

Sis T and I were able to pick up 3 new gators, I hope for more this week and have faith we will! I love this work so much, we are finding much success here we are blessed to be able to surpass the mission standard of excellence at this moment. The ward is trusting us more and more, and we will be able to teach our investigators in members homes this week and hopefully be introduced to two separate people to teach from members in the ward! The Work is at a uproar there is so many prepared. Take part everyone in this great work it is amazing and don't miss out in the blessings that await you as you partake in missionary work! 

 

Sorry if this was a weak email.  This week really was amazing, so much happening, but writing in an email doesn't explain a tiny bit of how wonderful life is as a missionary. Sis T and I love serving with one another, we have so much fun and she has drastically changed as a missionary - I felt as though I trained her:) haha. She loves the work so much. I don't think we will be serving with one another after this transfer, opportunity to train is quite high, I really hope I am staying here, there are so many people that we are teaching that I feel I am here specifically to teach, we just connect! I can't imagine my life without all these people I am meeting on my mission, its crazy, I love everyone I am meeting here and they are impacting my life immensely! 

Building friendships for eternity!

 

I love you all, hold your armour of righteousness and be obedient to the prophet and apostles council ! Exactly obedient don't just pick and choose what you want to follow!

 

There was so much said that can apply to us all!

 

Tell Nana I was thinking of her and Grandpa this weekend!  During President Monson's talk I though about her as he expressed his love for his wife, I am sure it brought nana to tears thinking of our dearly beloved grandpa bill.  I always feel so close to him and his presence!

I love you all!!

xoxox have a great week!

Love Sister Pizzey

 

p.s: I got my hair done today and it looks great!!! actually turned out good for once :)

September 30, 2013

So I just love being a missionary I just thought I would start with that just in-case you did not know that! 

 

I just love it! I want to be a completely different person by the time I am home, serving as a missionary has opened my eyes and changed my life. I LOVED the Relief Society Broadcast, it really talked about how we are Covenant people! And how we need to not take for granted the responsibility that comes from the covenants we have made with the Lord. All the way to sacrament and being excited for that sacred cleanse and renewal of our promises with God each week! I find as members of the church its easy for us to get lenient and too casual with the way we honour and continue to be obedient to the promises we have made to God, because it should never be casual! My eyes have been so opened to how important it is to be continuing to expand our knowledge and understanding  of the gospel and continuing to put Christ's character into our own character and remove the parts of our own Character that is natural and not Christ-like and remove it entirely from us!

 

This gospel is amazing, I love allowing Gods plan to swing through and take control over my life because it always lead to happiness! He has all power and wisdom and His plan always is what's best! Its too bad because on my mission i have come to realize how its not common that people have enough faith to endure and follow his plan, but I know as we bear trials with patience we will always be happy through God & Jesus Christ and this true Restored Gospel. 

 

Every week we teach the Restoration to soooo many people and I feel I am planting many seeds!  I would say we probably at least, introduce and invite this message to 280 ppl average a week and that we actually teach the full lesson to average to 15-20 ppl. 

 

We will be having two baptismal interviews this week one for Hope who is 72 and Bailey, it will be so fun because we will have two baptisms on one day! Bailey is 13yrs old is from a part member family that was LA that we have been teaching since I have been here. We had a wonderful musical concert yesterday that was a huge success I talked about that in my letter to PL as you can read above.

 

We started teaching a Japanese girl named Nako this week (we met biking up a hill I biked up to her and was panting out of breath and biked beside her as she walkd, we picked her up the next day), a chinese guy named Jordan (we knocked into), Mohammed who works with Bishop at his work, and Gloria (the wife of the guy Sis T and I helped moved a few weeks ago!) Gloria is from Uguanda and Mohammed somewhere in Africa- he is actually Muslim but is open minded and I feel potential will come from him haha none of Canada. 

We really have been working well with the Elders lately where we pass over investigators so we actually are passing Jordan to the elders he is 21 and just makes sense for them to teach him and they are passing an investigator who is in her 20s and use to be into drugs two yrs ago and just needs the gospel!  We will be teaching her tonight I can't wait!

Its funny as you plan things with God and through prayer he will always help you; with the Bishop we have been going through LA list.  We have met 5 LA's street contacting who didn't have info or address on the ward list!  God just dropping them in our path I love it!  He is so aware of each and everyone of us! 

 

Things with Erika have been bumpy she has taken few steps pack.  She still is reading and praying daily and believes its true just feels discouraged about being able to change. We will be seeing her on Saturday and hope and pray that things will work out!  We are having great success with LA couple bro and sis Heaths, they both love us so much and we have been having many Spirit filled lessons!  

 

I love this work so much and I am so grateful to be here serving as a missionary. This has changed my life. Although I am not here for me; I am here to bring others to the amazing change and miracle this gospel is for everyone and helps others see what this gospel has done for me.  It is very true that as we lose ourselves in the service of others, that is when we find ourselves. 

"With much is given, much is required" look forward to the future with much optimism and excitement!  And most importantly open our eyes and enjoy what is right in front of us; the moment and the many blessings God gives to us! 

I can not wait for conference this weekend! I will be thinking of you all as we are watching it at the same time!!

I LOVE YOU!

Be bold, step out of your comfort zone, and pray to ask God what he would like you to do with yourself in this time of your life, continue to be converted!

xoxox

Love Sister Pizzey