It's supposed to rain tomorrow and is 0 degrees outside (Celsius) but hey, I'm wearing floral because SPRING!!! :D
So...the title of this email may be a bit deceiving...because though transfer calls came Saturday night/Sunday morning and people are moving around tomorrow...I'm staying right here in West Kelowna with Sister Thurber! Looks like I'm sticking to a diet of rice and eggs! We bought a 25 pound bag of Jasmine rice today...if that doesn't show how much rice we eat!There isn't a whole lot of change happening in our zone this transfer. In fact, only one elder and one sister in our entire zone are moving! SO we are all staying together as a happy little zone family! ;)
This last week we were without a car for 3 days, and got to experience a little bit of mission life on foot! It was definitely a learning experience! I want to share something cool that came out of it! We bought bus passes to get us across the area, and we had an appointment on Monday for 7, and the bus came at 6:33 to get there exactly at 7. SO, we were walking to the bus, and Sister Thurber was checking time (because if you know anything about me, you know I have no concept of time!) and realized that we were a bit behind schedule...so if you were driving down the road, you would have seen to frantic sister missionaries running as fast as we could to the bus stop!! We got there at exactly 6:33!!! And...the bus had left 5 minutes early. :P Sister Thurber just about lost it! There was no way to get there exactly on time, and no matter how much I assured her that everything will work out and to trust in the Lord...she was really stressed. :) The next bus wouldn't get us to the appointment until 7:20. Just as we were pulling out the phone to text the person that we would have to be late or cancel, she texted us! "Hey, is it okay if you come at 7:20 instead of 7:00?" If there wasn't a better "I told you so" moment...! Hahaha Heavenly Father has such a great sense of humor! He taught us such a simple lesson that day, but helped us a lot! I love being able to turn to Him and know I will always be okay!
Also this past Saturday was my 2 month mark! Like what?! Where is the time going!??!?!?!?! We got Frozen Yogurt because Sister Thurber loves it and I can't make decisions of how to celebrate! XD Any ideas for my 3 month?! XD
As I mentioned in last week's email, Sister Thurber and I hiked Mount Boucherie last week! It was way fun! There was snow for a trail for the last bit...but it was a good hike! I decided to try to run through a field of snow at the top....news flash for any other St. Georgians....we are heavier than snow and will sink at first step. And fall on our faces. XD It was so fun!! So we hiked that mountain, and then the next day we decided to knock doors for 4 hours up a mountain. We figured (quite logically :P) that since we had hiked a mountain the day before, what's another one?! We didn't consider how sore we would be! Hahaha that was a fun 4 hours!!! The next day, we had district meeting and one of the trainings was on likening the scriptures unto ourselves. I likened Alma 26:27 to Sister Thurber and I.
Alma 26:27
"Now when our hearts were depressed and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst they bretheren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."
likened version:
"Now when Sister Thurber's and Sister Van Valkenburg's hearts were depressed, and they were about to turn back down the mountain, behold, the Lord comforted them, and said: Go amongst my children up the mountain, the Canadians, and bear with patience the pain in thy legs and shortness of breath, and I will give unto you success."
We had some good conversations with people up that mountain! :) And we learned that we can hike two mountains and two days! ;) Really though, the Lord will always give us the strength to accomplish His purposes! :)
This last week, we had a zone fast for new investigators and progress with our current investigators. Sister Thurber and I were able to fast on Wednsday, and by Saturday we had 2 new investigators! WOW! Power of the fast!!
Part of our Zone conference was about becoming pamphlet missionaries! (To teach a lot more out of the pamphlets) So we had a goal as a zone the other day to hand out at least 75 pamphlets as a zone in one day. Each companionship had to hand out at least 8 or 9. By 6:00, Sister Thurber and I had only handed out 2 and we were getting a little bit frustrated...nobody would open their doors or even give us the time of day! But we put on some smiles (well, bigger smiles. We are always smiling) and started running door to door to save time and build some energy! We handed out 9 more in just an hour!! Our zone got like 86 or something handed out!!! And not only did we meet our goal, but 86 more people now have information about the church in their hands and more of an opportunity to take steps in their lives to come closer to God!! SO COOL!!! I love setting goals and seeing them be accomplished!!
When studying obedience this week, I came across Exodus 19:5
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine."
SO COOL!!! The word peculiar means, as stated in the Bible Dictionary: "One's very own, exclusive, or special" If we keep our covenants with the Lord, we will be special. His very own. We will be a treasure to him! And I just think that is awesome. :)
Last thought for today: John 14:16-17
"16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
We are so privileged to have the gift of the Holy Ghost!! It is so important that we recognize the gift that we have!! It is such a blessing!! :D :D :D
I love you all to pieces and just love hearing how you are doing!! Keep being strong!! Remember that Heavenly Father loves you SO MUCH and is just ready to pour out the windows of heaven!! Turn to Him, and you will never be led astray!!
love,
Sister Van Valkenburg
Made it to the top!!
Ahhhh...snow. And pale skin! Yikes!
Hiking Mount Boucherie!
Made it to the top!!
Ahhhh...snow. And pale skin! Yikes!
I have attached a little template thing for all the days of the year! A sweet lady in the ward gave us each one, and you are to set a goal for the year and color in a little square for each day you do it! I have been doing it since the middle of February, and have loved it! My goal has been to say at least one heartfelt prayer every day of just gratitude! I have seen how much the Lord has blessed me with more of an attitude of gratitude and I love it!! So I extend the challenge to you! Choose something to do every day, and use the chart or something similar! Practice the piano, read your scriptures, make your bed, anything! I know that as we make and keep goals, we are so blessed!
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