June 27, 2011.

Hello from the new Canada Toronto Mission!

The Toronto West and Toronto East missions are combined as of last night at midnight. Transfers are today but hardly anybody moved due to the mission combination. Only those going home and those filling in their place have moved around. So I am happy to be here in Burlington for another short transfer. This transfer is only about four weeks and ends the end of July, when transfers will change to be on Fridays. Today is also a day we remember the martyrdom of the beloved prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (my fifth great grandfather), on June 27, 1844. I will be forever grateful for the strength and courage of these men and so many others who pushed forward to bring the Lord's truth once again to the earth. I was in the Family History Center last week and wrote down the names of my ancestors back to Hyrum Smith. I am so excited to research about the lives of these heroes when I get home. If you do not yet have a desire to do your family history, then get an account on new family search (newfamilysearch.org?) and pray for the desire. It is so fun to learn about those who have gone on before us. The prophet today, Thomas S. Monson has been here in Ontario this week. The Thomas S. Monson camp was dedicated on Saturday, Sunday he attended and spoke at the Brampton YSA ward where I served for six months (why am I not there NOW! :D), and today he will attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance in Toronto. I love the prophet so much because he truly leads us to Christ.

This week has been miraculous for Sister Yi and we are looking forward to more miracles this month. Tuesday morning we met with a member referral named Susan. She is a single mother with five children. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel and committed her to be baptized on July 31st! She said yes! She came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it. We are hoping to move her date up a week because I know she will be ready and transfers are on July 29th (selfish reason, I know, but I want to be there and who knows if I will be transferred or not!). Thursday night we met with Andris and had a good lesson, although we still didn't set him for a date. I can see that he has a logical, mental testimony, but he is lacking a spiritual testimony. His roots are not yet firmly planted in the soil. Thursday night we met with Karey. Her husband was not there and we brought a member with us. When we brought up baptism at the end, I was praying so hard because I really didn't know what to say. I told Karey we had been thinking and praying and asked her if she had been praying about baptism. She said that she had and that she was thinking maybe around September because of her busy schedule. Well, Sister Yi and I had already planned to commit her to a date in July, so my prayers to Heavenly Father continued as I listened to the Spirit for the words to say. I told her that we knew that she would be ready to be baptized on July 24th! We showed our confidence in her as we helped her to see her spiritual progression. Instead of getting scared or saying it was too soon, she felt calm. She got excited. We set up all of our appointments until July 24th! She was almost committed to the date but just said that she wanted to talk to her husband about it. We are meeting with her tonight and we will see what has happened since last week. She didn't come to church yesterday because she was at her family cottage. She has said that the first and only time she came to church so far, she felt like she was on the right path. She has no doubts. She is seeking for truth. Many of Father's children are prepared to know the truth now! Let us all, missionary or not, pray to be guided to these lost sheep whom we can help to bring into the fold of Christ!

Today I read a talk called "More than Conquerors through Him that Loved us" by Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy from the last General Conference. He talks about how "Trials are not just to test us. They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature." I studied many scriptures about enduring through trials and asked myself "How can I endure well?" and "Why is it important to endure well?" How can we endure well? We can show gratitude, refrain from complaining, stay busy, pray for strength, and as said in Preach My Gospel, pg 66 "Continually exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, making commitments, and following the Spirit.". Why is it important to endure well? You will have "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17), God will exalt you on high (D&C 121:7-8), we will be refined -Elder Johnson's talk says "Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior.", It will "build up our character, purify our hearts, expand our souls, and make us more tender and charitable" (Orson F. Whitney), it is a commandment from Heavenly Father and is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, "We draw closer to God, conquer temptation and sin, and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost more abundantly" (PMG, pg. 66), we will gradually grow in Christlike attributes, and we will be "lifted up at the last day and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb" (1 Nephi 13:37). Elder Johnson says something that I feel was written directly for me: "At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the tirlas can be very personal--almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses...the furnace of affliction helps to purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind the pure gold." I don't know about the pure gold part yet, but I do agree fully with Elder Johnson ;D. He says "We must be careful that we do not resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature." We all have the capacity to endure well, but we must choose to do so. Christ will give us strength if we give ourselves to Him. It is not a one-way thing. If we do our part, then He will do His. If you want to take a shortcut around the furnace, then you will end up on the other side, the same as you were before. Trust in the Lord. Put on the divine nature that is within you!

Well, those are my many thoughts of today. It's going to be a great week - new season, new mission, new transfer, new investigators, new starts :) Have a wonderful week! I have heard that the mail will start back up this week, but I'm not sure, so don't think I am ignoring you if I don't send letters :) You are always in my thoughts and prayers! May the Spirit be with you this week and always!

I love you all,

Sister Barton :)

June 27, 2011.

Hello from the new Canada Toronto Mission!

The Toronto West and Toronto East missions are combined as of last night at midnight. Transfers are today but hardly anybody moved due to the mission combination. Only those going home and those filling in their place have moved around. So I am happy to be here in Burlington for another short transfer. This transfer is only about four weeks and ends the end of July, when transfers will change to be on Fridays. Today is also a day we remember the martyrdom of the beloved prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (my fifth great grandfather), on June 27, 1844. I will be forever grateful for the strength and courage of these men and so many others who pushed forward to bring the Lord's truth once again to the earth. I was in the Family History Center last week and wrote down the names of my ancestors back to Hyrum Smith. I am so excited to research about the lives of these heroes when I get home. If you do not yet have a desire to do your family history, then get an account on new family search (newfamilysearch.org?) and pray for the desire. It is so fun to learn about those who have gone on before us. The prophet today, Thomas S. Monson has been here in Ontario this week. The Thomas S. Monson camp was dedicated on Saturday, Sunday he attended and spoke at the Brampton YSA ward where I served for six months (why am I not there NOW! :D), and today he will attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance in Toronto. I love the prophet so much because he truly leads us to Christ.

This week has been miraculous for Sister Yi and we are looking forward to more miracles this month. Tuesday morning we met with a member referral named Susan. She is a single mother with five children. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel and committed her to be baptized on July 31st! She said yes! She came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it. We are hoping to move her date up a week because I know she will be ready and transfers are on July 29th (selfish reason, I know, but I want to be there and who knows if I will be transferred or not!). Thursday night we met with Andris and had a good lesson, although we still didn't set him for a date. I can see that he has a logical, mental testimony, but he is lacking a spiritual testimony. His roots are not yet firmly planted in the soil. Thursday night we met with Karey. Her husband was not there and we brought a member with us. When we brought up baptism at the end, I was praying so hard because I really didn't know what to say. I told Karey we had been thinking and praying and asked her if she had been praying about baptism. She said that she had and that she was thinking maybe around September because of her busy schedule. Well, Sister Yi and I had already planned to commit her to a date in July, so my prayers to Heavenly Father continued as I listened to the Spirit for the words to say. I told her that we knew that she would be ready to be baptized on July 24th! We showed our confidence in her as we helped her to see her spiritual progression. Instead of getting scared or saying it was too soon, she felt calm. She got excited. We set up all of our appointments until July 24th! She was almost committed to the date but just said that she wanted to talk to her husband about it. We are meeting with her tonight and we will see what has happened since last week. She didn't come to church yesterday because she was at her family cottage. She has said that the first and only time she came to church so far, she felt like she was on the right path. She has no doubts. She is seeking for truth. Many of Father's children are prepared to know the truth now! Let us all, missionary or not, pray to be guided to these lost sheep whom we can help to bring into the fold of Christ!

Today I read a talk called "More than Conquerors through Him that Loved us" by Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy from the last General Conference. He talks about how "Trials are not just to test us. They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature." I studied many scriptures about enduring through trials and asked myself "How can I endure well?" and "Why is it important to endure well?" How can we endure well? We can show gratitude, refrain from complaining, stay busy, pray for strength, and as said in Preach My Gospel, pg 66 "Continually exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, making commitments, and following the Spirit.". Why is it important to endure well? You will have "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17), God will exalt you on high (D&C 121:7-8), we will be refined -Elder Johnson's talk says "Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior.", It will "build up our character, purify our hearts, expand our souls, and make us more tender and charitable" (Orson F. Whitney), it is a commandment from Heavenly Father and is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, "We draw closer to God, conquer temptation and sin, and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost more abundantly" (PMG, pg. 66), we will gradually grow in Christlike attributes, and we will be "lifted up at the last day and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb" (1 Nephi 13:37). Elder Johnson says something that I feel was written directly for me: "At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the tirlas can be very personal--almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses...the furnace of affliction helps to purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind the pure gold." I don't know about the pure gold part yet, but I do agree fully with Elder Johnson ;D. He says "We must be careful that we do not resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature." We all have the capacity to endure well, but we must choose to do so. Christ will give us strength if we give ourselves to Him. It is not a one-way thing. If we do our part, then He will do His. If you want to take a shortcut around the furnace, then you will end up on the other side, the same as you were before. Trust in the Lord. Put on the divine nature that is within you!

Well, those are my many thoughts of today. It's going to be a great week - new season, new mission, new transfer, new investigators, new starts :) Have a wonderful week! I have heard that the mail will start back up this week, but I'm not sure, so don't think I am ignoring you if I don't send letters :) You are always in my thoughts and prayers! May the Spirit be with you this week and always!

I love you all,

Sister Barton :)

June 20, 2011.

Happy Father's Day yesterday!

I am so grateful for the fathers in my life and most especially for my Heavenly Father. Did you remember to thank Him for the Father he is to each one of us? I'm sure it would mean a lot to Him :) Canada has been on a mail strike for over a week now so I don't know if I can send letters today. I heard from some members that the strike would end today, but we'll see. Happy 2nd Birthday to my nephew, Isaac, this week! I was there when he was born and I cannot believe it has been two years.

This week Sister Yi and I had an adventure when we drove out to Beeton (1.5 hours away) to go to the dentist (he's a member, so it was free). The drive was absolutely beautiful and Sister Yi and I were sad we didn't bring out cameras. We stopped at a convenience store and bought a disposable camera (yes, they still sell those!), and used the whole thing taking pictures of our little trip. The only hard part about the drive was driving on the freeways of Toronto. I had never been so close to the city of Toronto before (because it's in the East Mission) and there are lots of highways. I had directions from google maps and wrote them on post-it notes so when I finished one step, I could take off that note and move onto the next step. I may or may not be paranoid about driving places that I have never been hahaha. But we got there safely. After we got on the highway leading tonorth Ontario (it was tempting not to drive to North Bay ;D), the scenes were breathtaking. Everything is green, farms, barns, and beautiful skies. It would be a great place for a photoshoot (with a real camera, not an $8.00 one from the quickmart :D). The dentist quickly put a filling in one of my teeth and X-rayed Sister Yi's mouth. We don't have a clear diagnosis yet, but I think she has TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome - thank you anatomy!), which is causing her pain. Anyway, we are still working out details for getting her a bite plate for night time or whatever else we will need to do.

Andris came to church yesterday but Karey didn't. I don't know where she and her husband were. We need to call them today. We couldn't meet with her last week either, so we are looking forward to our lesson this week. We still have yet to find new investigators through our own efforts. We are tracting and talking to many people, but their hearts are hard and they won't let the Spirit in. It is interesting that so many people put their full trust in the Bible, instead of God Himself. I love the article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland titled "My Words...Never Cease." In it, he says:

"Since it is clear that there were Christians long before there was a New Testament or even an accumulation of the sayings of Jesus, it cannot therefore be maintained that the Bible is what makes one a Christian. In the words of esteemed New Testament scholar N. T. Wright, 'The risen Jesus, at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, does not say, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth is given to the books you are all going to write,’ but [rather] ‘All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.’ In other words, “Scripture itself points … away from itself and to the fact that final and true authority belongs to God himself.” So the scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge for Latter-day Saints. They are manifestations of the ultimate source. The ultimate source of knowledge and authority for a Latter-day Saint is the living God. The communication of those gifts comes from God as living, vibrant, divine revelation."

We do indeed look to the scriptures for guidance, comfort, and a knowledge of our Savior, but we do not close our hearts and ears to the words our Heavenly Father speaks to us today.

Sister Yi and I made some delicious noodles yesterday. They are noodles made from green beans, peas, and water. They are clear and delicious. We added brocolli, peas, carrots, corn, garlic, dark soy sauce, and green onions. We ate the whole huge pan that we made :) My hand was sore from using my chopsticks. When we were in our beds a couple nights ago, I said something that apparently was very funny. Well, I was trying to be funny, but it was even better than I had planned. Sister Yi said "I love you," to which I replied in mandarin "Wo ai ne, er." You see, she had just taught me how to count to ten in chinese (which I am getting better at each day), and I decided to say "I love you, two" in chinese, because I knew the word "two," and it sounds the same in english as "too." She laughed so hard and told me that I had just said "I love you, son." It was pretty funny. It's one of our little jokes now.

We have a busy week ahead of us and we are going to sacrifice a certain amount of time out of each lunch/dinner break we have so that we can be efficient and show the Lord our willingness to serve Him. It will be a great week! Make it a great week wherever you are too! Show gratitude for those you love, wear a smile all day, no matter what your circumstances, and pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to show you opportunities where you can serve! I love you all!

Love,

Sister Barton

June 13, 2011.

Hello Everyone!

I am not very creative with writing opening lines, so I'd rather just say hello and get on with my e-mail :). This week was good. We had a couple of days that were extremely hot and humid but the weather is great right now. We got a NEW investigator this week! YAY! Her name is Karey and she is the wife of a member. I don't remember if I mentioned them in my last e-mail. Karey's husband VJ is from Jamaica and just got his visa to come here a couple of weeks ago. They have been married for about two years and have been living in separate countries because he couldn't get a visa to come here. Anyway, Karey is great and so excited to learn. She loved church and has started reading the Book of Mormon now. She doesn't really have a religious background but believes in God. We extended a baptismal date invitation for July 11th and she ALMOST committed, but her husband showed a little bit of opposition. He wants her to know everything before we even talk about baptism. This is where missionary work gets a little bit difficult. Missionary work is always progressing and we receive new instructions and revelations on how to do certain things. All missionaries will (or at least they should) extend a baptismal invitation in the first lesson. The problem is that the way we do missionary work is not always communicated to the members of the church. So for them to hear us commit people to baptism on a specific date in the first lesson is very shocking. But that is the Lord's way. Unless directed otherwise from the Spirit, we will do it. So anyway, we will work to set a date in our next lesson with Karey and continue to help her husband understand that as we have a goal and set that vision of a date, we are really showing Heavenly Father our great faith and He is able and willing to answer our prayers. More to come on Karey later :)

We got a new ward mission leader!!!!!! SO exciting. Brother Fuller is the new wml and his wife, Brittany, is a Jenner! So I used to spend time with her at the Jenner's in North Bay. Brother Fuller served his mission in Australia and he is going to be a great leader for us. He is already helping and supporting us.

The biggest news of the week came on Saturday. As I wrote in my last e-mail, we had a combined conference with both missions in Brampton and Elder Ballard (Quorum of the 12 Apostles) spoke. First of all, I was on the front row and he looked at me and smiled at me a lot :) This short conference was not, however, what any of us expected. Elder Ballard spoke about the missions combining, President & Sister Eyre going home, and President & Sister Brower presiding over the Canada Toronto Mission starting July 1st. What came next shocked all of us: "And then you will be getting a new mission president in August..." What?!?! He proceeded to inform us that after extensive counsel, due to serious health issues Sister Brower is currently facing, President and Sister Brower will receive an honorable release from their mission in August. Tears filled my eyes and for the remainder of Elder Ballard's talk (and pretty much for the rest of the night), I was crying. Sister Brower kept her head down a little bit because I'm sure it was hard to look at so many missionaries who love her so much. This will be a big change for everyone, but it is still the Lord's work. I will love the new mission president and sustain him just as much as President Brower. The main desire of my heart is just that Sister Brower gets better :) I fasted for her yesterday and truly felt the spirit of the fast, which has always been something hard for me. Elder Ballard paid tribute to Sister Brower (his daughter) and spoke of how she has the spirit of a lion. It is so true. She is a supermom and is an example to me. For now, I am going to cherish the time I have with President and Sister Brower and thank my Heavenly Father for bringing them into my life. It is very clear why President Brower was called to preside over this great mission at this time. He has a great work to do in preparing this great mission to re-unite with the east mission.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY this week!!!!!! I love Father's Day just as I love Mother's Day. Fathers are incredible. The work to support families, they teach children to be good and to do good, they give the best hugs, and they have great responsibility in Heavenly Father's plan. I am so grateful for all of the fathers in my life (brothers, fathers, uncles, friends, mission presidents, etc.). I pray that each of you have a great week and feel the love that so many people have for you :)

I read the first presidency message about tithing in the June Ensign last night and it is SO good. I learned so much from it and it really helped me to appreciate rules and commandments so much. Elder Eyring says: "To receive the gift of living with [God] forever in families in the Celestial Kingdom, we must be able to live the laws of the kingdom (D&C 88:22)...He has given us commandments in this life to help us develop that capacity...one of the blessings that comes from paying a full tithing is developing faith to live an even higher law. To live in the Celestial Kingdom, we must live the law of consecration. There we must be able to feel that all we are and all we have belong to God." Amazing! Everything here on earth, especially commandments, are given to us to prepare us for the way we will live after this life. We won't pay tithing in the Celestial Kingdom but this commandment now prepares us to to live higher laws later. This is true with all commandments now - they are preparing us to have the spiritual capacity to live the laws of our future eternal home. One of the thoughts I had while reading this last night was about the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." In the Celestial Kingdom, there will be a fulness of love and joy; nobody will speak ill of another. In order to abide the law there, we have to be able to live it here on earth; hence the fact that this life is a TEST!

Anyway, I don't know if I am making any sense or just rambling on, but I hope you feel of my testimony because I truly know that Christ's Church is again on the earth with the power of God to lead us back to live with Him. Have a great week and strive to strengthen your testimony of the Savior! I love you all!

Love,

Sister Barton :)

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!

June 6, 2011.

Dearest Family and Friends,

How are each of you? It has been a good week here in Burlington. I think Tuesday was the hottest day of my life haha. It wasn't actually THAT hot, but it was very humid. We almost asked a random person at their door if we could sit down on their bench or chair because we needed to rest. We pushed through and then had a dinner appointment so that was nice to cool off. It has been pretty nice weather since then. On Saturday night it was cold again and I had my jacket and a scarf on. It is pretty much the same weather as Utah, but more humid.

A few random things happened this week, but we didn't teach any investigators so there isn't much to report about that. Andris came to church yesterday but cancelled his appointment for this week again because he is busy all week. Don't you just love the gift of agency sometimes? Haha. Tami had to cancel her appointment last week because they were out of town. Hopefully we will be able to meet with her sometime this week. A new couple moved into our ward and the wife is not a member! Her husband just got his visa to Canada from Jamaica and was finally able to move here last week. He joined the church in Jamaica in August of last year and it was his wife's first time at church yesterday! We will be going to their house this week to give her some books so she can begin learning :) I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity. We had set up a few appointments with potential investigators last week but they all fell through. One of them, Mike, wasn't home, but there were a few guys outside drinking and they were pretty funny. One of them told me I look like I brush my teeth six times a day! I'll take that as a compliment. I guess I do brush them about three times a day :) Then the member we were with asked if I get hit on a lot. Funny.

Another random experience happened while we were leaving a house after knocking on the door. Don't laugh...I was just walking along and a bird flew out of the tree and hit me in the shoulder. Either the bird cannot aim or I am invisible. Anyway, apparently birds do not have bladder control or something, because after hitting me in a split second, he pooped down the side of my shirt! I must admit, it was pretty funny. I randomely had a rag with me in my bag because my frozen waterbottle was wrapped in it. Sister Yi helped me wipe my shirt off and we were on to the next house :) Only on a mission...

Saturday was full of miracles as we found four potential investigators and set up two appointments. We drove up to Waterdown, which is a little town outside of Burlington, to drop by a referral we had. The referral wasn't home, so we tracted his street. We talked to a man named outside and it was a neat experience. I told him what church we are from and he said "Good, I need help." I didn't know what he meant at first because he was trying to fix his lawn mower haha. After no other comments, I proceeded to tell him about why we were there and I realized that he really did need help - spiritually. He used to attend church but for no reason, he just stopped going. He told me I am very peaceful :) We set up an appointment to teach him this week. He was very open and it was so good to see the Lord's hand in this work. His next door neighbor was also interested to learn more. She didn't give us her phone number, but she was very interested to look at the website and we will plan on dropping by in a couple of weeks. Later that night, we were able to set up an appointment with a woman we briefly talked to at her door (she was having a family night :D) and then we talked to a great man from Guyana at the end of the street. After talking for a while, I asked if he would be interested to learn more and he said sometime in the future. I laughed and said "Next week is the future." He laughed. Sister Yi then said "Tomorrow is the future." She's a wise one :) Anyway, he gave us his number and we will call him "in the future," maybe next week.

While coming in to e-mail today, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just figured we would talk to people later in the day. Then the Holy Ghost kindly reminded me that when I go through P-day focused on myself and don't share the gospel throughout the day, I am not happy. SO...right before coming into the library, I began talking to a lady who was getting something out of her trunk. Guess where she was from? Mainland China!!!!! WAHOO! Sister Yi hasn't really been able to talk to anyone from China since coming here because we either haven't met many or they wouldn't listen. Anyway, she was able to talk to this woman and tell her about the plan that God has for us (I guess that's what they talked about...I don't quite understand Mandarin yet - although I did learn how to count to ten last night :D). The woman said that she has met missionaries before but her husband is scared to believe in God because his cousin is in jail in China for his beliefs. It was so uplifting and great to talk to know that Sister Yi and I reached outside of ourselves to invite a daughter of God to come closer to Christ. We gave her a card with our phone number on it and I told her she was a daughter of God and He loves her :) It was a great experience. I know the angels around us smiled!

Have a great week and soak up the sun! Remember who you are and be kind to others. I love you all :)

Love,

Sister Barton