June 29, 2015

Hey!

So, crazy week, but it seems that is always the case...

First of all, temperatures have been in the low 30's (that's upper 80's for all us Fahrenheit folks) all week, and you can feel the city slowing down as everyone tries to cope with the heat wave. Such temperatures (with humidity) are unusual for Calgary, despite it being the sunniest city in Canada. And I quickly discovered that practically NO ONE has A/C!!! So, we have been doing all we can to not roast... I know that's nothing compared to weather back home, but it's different when you're accustomed to milder weather and then BAM heat wave! Hopefully it cools off by the end of the week...

I had to say goodbye to my north area after only 5 weeks, which is super sad.. I've really grown to love the ward and my companion :( But I am also super excited for her to train a new missionary! As for myself, I've been transferred to Calgary East, Prairie Winds Ward! So far I'm loving it here. I am super excited to be in the east, because it is the most unique part of the mission! It's the poorer part of the city, and the area is heavily populated with east Indians and Philippinos. I feel like I stand out like a sore thumb. Our chapel is right next to a Sikh Temple. Instead of English and French, everything is in English and Punjabi or Philippino. Even the breeze smells of curry spices, no joke!!
But the best part of this area is the work - there is more to do here than in my previous two areas combined. My first day in I discovered we have 14 active investigators we are working with, in addition to lots of less actives and part member families. Whether it be lessons on a doorstep or helping someone move, we always have something interesting to do!

Also, within the next couple of days we will be getting our new mission president!! There is definitely an undercurrent of anticipation amongst the missionaries,  so it will be interesting what changes occur. I know President Nicholas will be missed, and am so grateful for the sacrifices he has made over the last 3 years to serve. They have given so much to be out here, and there are so many that love them for it. I would like to share his final email to us:

This will be our last message as Mission President and Companion.  We are saddened by the prospect of not being able to be part of the work in this mission on one hand, yet anxious to return to family and see the growth that has occurred in grandchildren and even in our children’s lives as well.  We will always have fond memories of the time we spent in the Great Canada Calgary Mission.

President Spencer W. Kimball says that the most important word in the scriptures is “Remember”  In Helaman Chapter 5, we are to “…remember…the words which King Benjamin spoke…that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ…” and “…remember the…words which Amulek spoke…that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people…And he has power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance…”  Finally, we are to “…remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that you must build your foundation…” 

We are to “…always remember Him…” as we covenant each week to “…keep His commandments…” so that we might “…always have His spirit…” to be with us. 

Paul says in 1 Cor. 9: 24-25, that “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain…Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” 

We all are running a race called full-time missionary service

As you run this race we call a mission you run against no one but yourself.  This mission is not a competition with other missionaries and you only have to prove yourself worthy of the incorruptible crown to one person; the Savior Jesus Christ. 

Activities, temptations, distractions may pull you away from your goal of finishing this race.  Though you may have to struggle against these things, never let them distract you from the importance of serving faithfully and finishing honorably. 

There is one who doesn’t want you to finish.  He will do all that he can to keep you from finishing.  He still believes that he can thwart the great plan of happiness that our Father in Heaven has laid out for each of you.  He would lead you to believe that you can’t grow in the gospel and that you are hopeless and hapless, unworthy, unfruitful creatures that are forsaken and left to your own devices to fend for ourselves as you serve.  Nothing is further from the truth. 

Listen and heed the counsel of those who love you.  President and Sister Miles will be your greatest coaches and cheerleaders as you move through this race of a mission.  Heed their counsel just as athletes heed the words of their coaches and trainers.  Listen in order that as a runner you may finish this race. 

Always remember as you run, that you can rely on one who has finished a great work and led the way to the finish line.  “I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.  I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself— Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works…” (D&C 19: 1-3)  

The Savior and Redeemer of the world stands as our great example, our defender, and finally as our advocate when we have all finished our mortal race. 

May you so run is our final prayer for each of you. 

President and Sister Nicholas

I would like reiterate his message, that the same applies to each of you; though you may not be currently serving  as a fulltime missionary, you do have a full time mission as disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ, to follow and serve Him to the best of your abilities. I know He will help us in our individual races, so that we all may finish well.


I love you all!

Sister Patterson


P.S. Have a happy 4th of July!

June 23, 2015 - Pictures

Me and Sister Widgren (at the start of the transfer)

Calgary Zoo - found a moose!!!

At the Calgary Zoo

Calgary Zoo - found some new investi-gators! ;)

(My companion loves practicing her photography skills)

(More photography practice...)

Lori's BAPTISM!!!

Randomly found this downtown

One of many beautiful sunsets...

A reverse of the other sunset picture, 2 different ways

Another sky picture...

and another sky picture... I'd bet half the missionaries up here go home with a ton of them- the sky is always so beautiful!!!

Calgary Temple

I LOVE YOU ALL!

June 23, 2015

 Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been so long between emails, just don't have a lot of time lately. Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks:

First of all, HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!! (I know it was Sunday, but hey, better late then never!) Just wanted to express how grateful I am for my own wonderful dad; what a privilege to be the daughter of such a hard-working, loving and generous man. I love you!!!!

For a P-day activity our zone went downtown to the Calgary Zoo! It was a really nice park, with plenty to see, even a dinosaur exhibit - hooray ;) We had a ton of fun exploring though ...

Additionally, you should know that this has been a 5 week transfer, so this week is transfer week!! It just flew by, and I can hardly believe its about to be over... My companion got a training call, so tomorrow (Wednesday) we pick up her greenie, and Thursday I go who knows where for the next 7 weeks. I'm excited to see what happens...

At a recent zone training meeting we had a wonderful discussion on the principle of God being our loving Heavenly Father. I realized that knowledge is a huge part of why I decided to serve a mission; I know that His love is real - I have felt it for myself and experienced the peace and comfort that comes from feeling a father's deep and genuine love for their child. I have evidence of His love from knowing He answers prayers, and having experienced the enabling and redeeming powers of the atonement of His Son Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) What a priceless gift! I want to share that with others so that they too can feel the joy that comes turning to our loving Heavenly Father. I would invite you to ask yourselves: How do you KNOW that He loves YOU?

We went on exchanges, and I got to go to central Calgary, downtown area. Interesting place to be, variety of people to meet. There's definitely a different feel to try and street contact such a busy area. Re-emphasized to me that people really do notice the missionaries, that we stand out as representatives of Jesus Christ. Got to teach some awesome lessons though!

My companion and I also had the privilege of going to the Calgary Temple! What a beautiful place, not only for it's architectural and designed beauty, but for the Spirit that's there, the peace within it's walls, and most importantly, for the work that it done within. I was able to take another family name, and felt an added sense of gratitude in doing so. I know that the temple is the house of God, that it is a place where we can be strengthened to endure the storms of life. I know that we have a great privilege and duty to do work for those who have passed on, and that because of it, families truly can be together forever!

Our mission had a goal for them month of May to have 50 investigators on date to be baptized, and it was amazing to watch as we all worked to achieve that number. In a month we managed to nearly double our number of people on date! Having that unified goal really helped us all keep our focus on our missionary purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Not only did we meet our goal, but we were able to see miracles in the process. In my new area alone there were 2 baptisms in the month of May. I wanted to tell you about one in particular. Her name is Lori, and she is a single woman in her 50's. Her dad and brother are long time members of the Church, and they have hoped and prayed for years that she would join. At a move, her brother asked us to visit her and see if she would be interested, and turned out she finally was! After knowing her for only 3 weeks she was baptized and confirmed as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I couldn't be happier then to know that this wonderful daughter of God has been prepared for years for this time, and that it doesn't matter if we are 8 or 80, we can all receive the same blessings of discipleship when we choose to follow our Savior and keep His commandments. It's been a miracle to watch her progress in her testimony and faith, to know that she is making and keeping commitments that will bring her peace in this life and the greatest joy in the next. I know what the scriptures promise to be true, that those who keep the commandments are truly blessed and happy, "for behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual, and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness." (Mosiah 2:41)

I love you all!
Sister Patterson

May 25, 2015

Hey everyone! So apparently I need to wish you all a happy Memorial Day! To be honest, I was completely oblivious to that fact until someone clued me in.... Hopefully you all have nice weather for celebrating!

Also, I realized my email list wasn't sending to everyone, so hopefully now it will be more consistent :) (Hopefully you've been able to see stuff on the blog though)

Where do I even begin for this week.....

This past week half of my zone (4 companionships) got purge calls, or in other words, we were told BOTH companions were being transferred out. Not only that, but they also told everyone to close out their apartments as well! So, Calgary West zone was in upheaval all weak trying to pack, clean and be ready to go who knows where! For those of you who haven't served missions, this is super crazy and rare, because normally at the end of a transfer one companion leaves, one stays to transition. But for 4 areas  to be cleared out completely - that is something else! We later found out that by the end of summer we will be losing about 30% of the missionaries out, so everything is downsizing. This is also the last transfer before we get our new Mission President.

Anyway, we showed up at the transfer station, and I ended up going to the Calgary North Zone, in the Coventry Ward. (It's right near the Airport, and the zone covers the northern most part of our mission boundaries). My new companion is Sister Widgren from Kansas, and she has been out about 6 months. So far she has enjoyed "greenie-busting" me. :)

Oh, and one other thing: at transfers we were informed that they are cracking down on mileage. So basically, everyone has an allotted number of clicks for the month, and if we go over, then our keys get taken and we walk for the remainder of the month!! So, half our north zone started out transfers getting parked, and now everyone's kinda freaking out a little. Sister Widgren and I are safe, but being frugal with clicks, so we have walked a LOT. Sadly, this area is much more hilly then my last one. But it will all work out.:)

It's been crazy trying to transition from one area to another (this being my first time). Part of my brain is still worrying about what we had going in the west, and now I'm trying to figure out the north. But as a super awesome way to start off the transfer we got an investigator on date to be baptized next month!

Missionary work is awesome, and finding people ready to receive the gospel is incredible. I can hardly believe it's already been 3 months! The days go by slowly, but the weeks go by fast- not sure why.

"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen."

(Doctrine & Covenants 4)

Love,
Sister Patterson

May 19, 2015 - Pictures

Zone P-day activity at the park - Zorb Balls!!!

Goodbye to the Zone (end of transfer).
The one in front with the hat is an Elder going home, and he is a bit of a cowboy. That is his custom flag in front. ;)

Found a "maze" garden.

Spring!!

May 19, 2015

Hey ya'll, sorry it's been a while, it's been crazy busy.

The transfer is coming to a close, and I can't believe how quickly its gone by! My 12 weeks as a greenie are just about done, but to be honest, I still feel like there's a ton left to learn.

We have been keeping busy in a variety of ways. For one, spring has finally come (although this past weekend was stormy/snowy/icy), so it's been a great opportunity to help both members and non-members with service (yard work, moving, etc). Our zone pulled together to help move an elderly lady (not a member) to a new apartment, and it proved to be a LOT of hard work. But it was totally worth it to build that relationship of a positive view of the church. Hopefully in months to come missionaries will be able to go back and teach her the gospel. :)

We've been able to make a lot of progress with getting in to teach less actives in the ward, and it's been amazing to watch as we teach and extend invitations, and as they follow through on their commitments, that there is an immediate change in their lives; the spirit is stronger and the blessings seem to pour from heaven as they start making those changes necessary to be more aligned with the gospel. Heavenly Father truly does bless us the very moment we start to change and turn to Him. As we are patient with ourselves and persistent in our efforts, we will notice our lives filling with light and clarity, with strength and peace to continue on. Our bishop has extended to the ward an invitation of one way in which we can experience these blessings: begin daily scripture study with prayer, and read with a question in mind. I would like to invite you all to do the same. I can promise as you make a consistent effort, you will be blessed with the answers you seek. Starting with prayer is like opening a window for revelation to more easily enter, and lets our Father in Heaven know that we are ready and willing to listen and learn. As we pray we talk to him, but it is as we search the scriptures, that He talks to us. I can promise that this invitation is a simple but effective way to find greater spiritual guidance for our lives, and that when we make our best effort to search, ponder and pray, we will be blessed with answers.


I love you all,
Sister Patterson

May 4, 2015

Hey ya'll!

Sorry it's been a little while, busy busy. This week has really begun to feel like Spring, and so people have been asking for help with all kinds of service opportunities, mostly yard work related. Gotta admit, one of my favorite parts of service opps is the fact that we get to wear pants. :) Seriously though, it's wonderful to help people out when it's beyond their own abilities to accomplish the work by themselves. This past Thursday thru Saturday we were practically booked solid with service, and never have I been so sore in my life. On Saturday all the missionaries in our zone got recruited for a highway cleanup project, only that day turned into a blizzard. Gotta love Canada! :)

Oh, we got a new ward mission leader and ward missionary. Both have returned from their missions within the last 3 weeks, so the ward is gonna get a strong does of RM fire! It should be interesting...

SO, last week I got an email from the sheffer's, asking me a few questions about missionary life. I figured the responses were worth sharing, so enjoy!

How many ties do you own?

Sadly, I don't own any ties. :) However, I asked some elders and the average is anywhere from 10 to 30 !!!

What is your favorite Canadian food so far?

So far, the food has been pretty normal. They do love their beef up here, though! I'd have to say one  of my favorite normal foods so far has been the local favorite of beef on a bun (similar concept to pulled pork sandwiches, but different. It's hard to explain...) I have yet to try the infamous poutin (fries with cheese and gravy).  One of the most unique things I've had (and loved!) was a Jamaican curry and dumplings dish - SO GOOD! Super unique though, not sure how to describe it. :)

What is the most important spiritual lesson that you have learned on your mission so far?

The most important spiritual lesson so far has been that if you don't have the spirit with you, you CANNOT teach. Try as I might, my own abilities are not enough to convert people. It is ONLY through the Holy Ghost that hearts and minds are changed and that people feel the power and authority of our message and calling as representatives of Jesus Christ.

What is the most important temporal lesson?

The most important temporal lesson so far has been how to thoroughly wash and detail a car. We had car inspections this past week, and they are INTENSE. We spent almost a total of 4 hours working on ours! Random tip for the day: apparently using newspaper to dry windows does wonders. Who knew?! But it was worth the effort; we won 2nd cleanest car out of two Zones!

How do you speak Canadian? 

Most of the time people sound pretty normal to me. But there are a TON of immigrants from other countries (especially India and China). Everything has both English and French writing, and depending on what province people are from, they could either sound like they're from France, England, India, China, Utah, or Minnesota. People DO say "eh" or "hey". I think the proper usage would be to use it at the end of an exclamatory rhetorical question. For example: "It's super cold out, (h)eh?!" People also swap their vowels, hard vs soft sounds. Beg for bag, pasta as in fast, etc. Just imagine an American Midwest accent. :) There are also quite a few things they call differently, like "washroom" for restroom.

How long have you been in Canada now?

As of April 25th, I have been in Canada exactly 2 months! Crazy, eh!? ;)

Does everybody there love MAPLE syrup?

I don't know about the maple syrup. So far, I have had it exactly twice at random breakfast meals. But there does seem to be an abundance of maple flavored things when I go grocery shopping.  Local favorites are the maple flavored cookies and milkshakes. I think it depends on the province, but from what I've heard the maple-mania is more in the east... Although, some of the money smells of maple- does that count? ;)

What are the names of your companions? What do you do to get along with them?

My companion's name is Sister Lark Milius, and she is fantastic! It's turned out to be strange how many things we have in common, and so we get along really well. But there are definitely times when one of us needs her space. We have an understanding that each evening has a little quiet time before bed to do journaling or whatever to have some "alone time." But in general, to get along we share stories, jokes, awkward moments (which there are a TON of as a missionary- comes with the territory), we laugh together, sing along with music on car rides, and respect each other's opinion and space.  You find whatever works for your personalities so you can communicate and work together well. Part of a weekly planning session we have includes a companionship inventory when we sit down and talk about our individual strengths and weaknesses and how to strengthen our companionship in the coming week. It's a time to resolve any issues and concerns and to make goals on how to help one another improve. I guess in the end, it comes to whether you really do feel like "sister" goes deeper than the nametag, that you share a bond of friendship and trust for one another.

What time do you wake up in the morning?

We are required to wake up by 6:30am every day, but my companion and I are discovering that our day actually seems to work out better if we get up by 6:00am. That half hour is HARD to give up, but means we are less rushed to get to our studies, and so we get more out of them, which is critical to having a truly productive day.

How does it feel to be a missionary?

How does it feel to be a missionary? Now that is a BIG question... To be honest, before coming out I kind of imagined putting on the tag would magically turn me into this perfect little missionary who is immune from personal issues and can automatically connect well with everyone. FALSE. Being a missionary means being even more acutely aware of weaknesses and the urgency to improve. And yet at the same time, it is so fulfilling knowing exactly who you are and what you are supposed to be doing and to know you are doing your assigned part to build the kingdom. It means you feel the Spirit differently; you can tell whether the Spirit is in the room or not and you can tell if an investigator is feeling that witness of truth. It means you have the power and authority to make promises as a representative of the Lord, and you treat that privilege sacredly.

I love you all, have a wonderful week!!

Sister Patterson