December 8, 2014

Hello Family!!

Toronto is so cool. Like, I'm loving it here. We live in the Ghetto of all Ghetto's but it's the best. Last week we went to the city and it was so cool to see the pretty, rich side! Downtown is awesome!

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Man this week was awesome, but I think the highlight of it all was the ward Christmas party. Yes, it was a little stressful. I was in charge of the Nativity. I was the only missionary that stayed in the ward from last transfer and we had made plans last transfer so Bishop put me in charge. Since 60% of the YM/YW are inactive practices were a little difficult. But it actually turned out really well!! I was nervous they would be punks and wouldn't take it seriously but they did great. Yahoo! And we were able to get a lot of the youth to participate! Kacy (our 15 year old investigator) was Joseph!! And the narrator was this girl who has been inactive for about 3 years. So it was super awesome! A lady in the ward had a super awesome backdrop that we set up and the costumes were mostly hers. She was so nice to let us borrow everything. The nativity was about 15 mins. We stopped to sing songs during the play. But everyone loved it! I'll attach a picture of it :) So aside from being nervous about the youth that were there and the costumes and everything else WE HAD 7 INVESTIGATORS THERE! And 3 of them were there for the first time. I was so nervous that they were feeling comfortable and making friends while we were running around. Ha it was a crazy night! But the ward was awesome as usual and talked and welcomed them into the ward. We invited a lot of less active members and so many of them came. Like we almost ran out of food and all of the seats were taken. We gave up our seats and sat on our own little table on the side while we ate for 10 mins. It was funny. Jill came and dressed up like Mrs. Claws. It was adorable.

SID: He's our investigator from India and I'm obsessed with him. He's about 30 years old and is working and going to school here. He is crazy busy so we aren't able to meet with him very often but he has come to church 3 times and we have an appointment with him this week so that's exciting. When we were on the bus headed to the church to help set up and we saw Sid get on our bus with a ton of juice boxes. He went to the grocery store and bought drinks for the party!! And he was like 45 minuets early. The relief society sisters were running around like crazy getting the food ready and Sid just started helping them. He was putting rolls on the table and cutting turkey! WHO DOES THAT!? Like, he's not even a member and he was helping out way more than most people in the ward. Anyways he's so great and I hope he gets baptized in January!

DEE, KENDRA, and MARIO: OK I know I say I'm obsessed with everyone... BUT I'M ALSO OBSESSED WITH THIS FAMILY! They are so awesome! We met with them twice this last week and they are so sweet and have such great manners. Mario is 8 but acts way older! When we walked into their house he hung our coats up then asked if we would like any water. Cute, right? And Kendra (18) is just so sweet. She said she was cleaning up before we came so we would feel comfortable coming back! And Dee just had a baby, Noah is 2 months old, and she's such a good mom. Anyways they have baptismal dates so we'll see how it goes. They enjoyed the ward Christmas party so that's good!

WORD OF WISDOM ISSUES: So normally I would be talking about my investigators struggling with word of wisdom but this time it's ME. I HAD TEA!!! On accident, but still! Isn't that sooo bad? Our investigator Christine gave us lunch after we taught the restoration. There was just red drink and I thought it was juice or something. So I drank it and it was warm. I'm thinking, "uh, this juice is warm and nasty." Anyways my companion asked what it was and she said tea. So teaching word of wisdom to her will be super funny. "I know I drank your tea the other day, but we actually can't drink it at all."

BOOK OF MORMON: I LOVE IT. I'm in 2 Nephi right now and the last 4 chapters are soooo good. Like, I wanted to underline all of the verses! Ha I especially loved chapter 29 because it talks about the Book of Mormon. I'm just going to start reading these verses to people who love the Bible but aren't interested in the Book of Mormon.

6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

But I do have a question for you all. We were teaching about the Apostasy. And our investigator asked, "So if God loves all his children, why was no one able to learn about the gospel and receive the blessings that come from it?" I think I said something about how they weren't prepared to accept the gospel, but that's a super good question, right? What would you have said?

The library is crazy today!! Ali is here (Muslim man who introduced us to our worst nightmare), Shauna is here playing computer games (we dropped because she liked her weed too much, BUT CAME TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY!?), the man next to me just asked where our church is. He just moved here from Kenya and wants to come! I got his info so we'll give him a call! A man from the ward just came and said hello. Man, we're feeling popular today! :)

Sister Bott and I are having a blast! Missionary work can seriously be so much fun!! Yahoo!

OK I love you all playas and hope you are enjoying the Christmas season!!

Sister Dayton

Downtown Toronto

Downtown Toronto

Pig head...

NIKEL!!! She got baptized 6 months ago. 

The crew.