Helaman 5 :)

Mum, PahPea, Family and Friends!

What a wonderful week!! We've been working hard and seeing miracles left and right, in front and in back. in other words, ALL around us! LOVE this work so much!!! I don't have much time today, so let's jump right into a shoutout to...

HOLLY (sparks) MATEER!!!! HAPPY ONE DAY LATE BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!!!! I love you so much and hope you have the greatest birthday of all time!! I could continue to make this birthday wish ooper cheezy, but for the sake of time and also embarrassing you, I'll just say; you mean a lot to me. like a lot. and I love you. eyup. that's all you get. :) LOVE YOU GOOB! happy birthday!!! p.s. you're old. :)

ok, so now let's have QUESTION TIME!!

1.  Transfers - assuming you are staying in Mississauga?  Sister Edwards?

EYUP x 2! SOO excited!!! :)

2.   Victor?

He's so sweet, I don't think I could adequately describe our love for Victor. He has such a HUGE heart and cares about his wife and God SO much. He asked for our ward mission leader to give his wife a blessing this past week and as he did so, the Spirit was SO strong. His wife began to say a prayer in Portuguese afterwards (because they're from Portugal) and although I didn't know what she was saying, the Spirit was definitely there and they both felt it. Ah, how I love the priesthood, how I LOVE that God trusts worthy men to hold that priesthood, that power of God to do His work for the salvation of men! How grateful I am to all you who live worthily to allow God's trust to be placed within you. You don't receive thanks enough, but thank you. 

3.  Latavia?

Doing well, enjoys reading the scriptures with her sister everyday. We're hoping we can help her attend a baptismal service this Sunday with her mom so they can feel the Spirit of the ordinance and in the Lord's House. Ultimate blessings in His Church!  LOVE it! :)

4.  Shelly?

She is taking care of her sister in Barrie, I believe, and won't be back til next week, but we'll stay in contact and let you know.

5.  Joan?

Also got VERY sick this past week. a nasty little bug is flying around up here so please keep her in your prayers as well, thanks!

6.  What was your favorite exchange this week?

yikes...that's like picking a favorite companion...can't be done. :) I went on a GREAT exchange with both Hermana Bishop in Christie and Sister Ghiman here in Mississauga. Hermana Bishop and I talked a lot about consecration and how we want to be better ourselves as well as Sister Ghiman and I. The latter is a brand new missionary from Romania and she is so funny! You know how I talk a LOT? I feel like I only spoke about 15% of the day in comparison to her! haha She's so sweet, so grateful to have gone with both of them!

7.  How has the weather been?

in all honesty? Super duper cold. ha! We were out knocking on doors around where someone used to meet with missionaries last night for about 15 minutes and we literally had to defrost our toes afterwards!! crazy, eh? It's ok though, we're in the worst of it now, but it'll lighten up towards the end of February. It's a good thing we're happy people and burst out laughing when we're in pain, because the alternative would be ooper annoying! haha :)

8.  What are your plans for the remainder of today?

clean our car, apartment, go get something to eat, groceries, then zone activity at the church before transfers tomorrow! also... elder green keeps asking me at church if we have retrieved our car key that I dropped down the elevator shaft on Christmas...yikes...I don't think anyone will ever let me off the hook for that one...:)

9.  Any message for Channing (who turned ONE on Tuesday, 1/21)?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE ONE!!!! wait....you're one?? SERIOUSLY??? I haven't even met you yet!!! That can't be possible...(o0ps...that's a 200 fly *copyright from Dee Loose) Yikes, that's so exciting!! I hope you had a great day sweet one!!! I love you so much and well...I'm excited to actually meet you one day! in the meantime, do your best, eat lots of food, and keep mommy and daddy busy! :) Say hi to your new little brother/sister for me when he/she arrives!! :) LOVE YOU!  (NOTE FROM SHERYL - apparently I haven't told Sister De Groot that Erin is having a BOY!  Oops...my bad!  LOL)

FINISH MY SENTENCE:

10.  Describe a typical Sunday in Mississauga (if there is such a thing!)?

wake up at 6:30, and get ready quick to leave the apartment at 7:05 to be at the church at 7:30 for correlation. then 8:30 is ward council. then 9:30 is studies/call investigators/welcome people to church for 10:30. Then at 1:30 we go out to find more people to want to come the next week!! :) At first, I was a little nervous about all the meetings in the mornings, but it allows us the most effective amount of proselyting time which I am VERY grateful for!!:)

11. The FUNNIEST thing that happened to me this week was...

we went to panda again. and they remembered us...by name...I like those people. :)

12.  The BIGGEST EXCITEMENT happened when....

I FOUND OUT SISTER ZERKLE IS THE NEW SISTER TRAINING LEADER!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!! yeah. I'm a little excited. :)

13.  One of the things I love most about Sister Edwards is....

to accept God's will in EVERY aspect of life. There is no point in worrying about ANYTHING because ultimately, things will work out the way God wants them to. Just "keep moving forward" She's SO great!!! 

14.  My FAVORITE teaching moment was...

Victor. teaching him the Plan of Salvation. We don't know what God has in store for him and his wife, but he knows what he needs to do to allow them to be together forever. Preparing for baptism near the end of February! :) The Spirit truly touched his heart and he is acting faithfully to that piercing. I have learned so much from this sweet man!

15.  I loved my meeting with President Scott because...

He's so full of wisdom and the Spirit! I've learned on the mission that a great leader is one who has a balance of justice and mercy, and President Scott has that down to a "T"! As I talked with him, I felt his love for me and the Saviors love for me and acceptance of my desire to follow Him in His work.

16.  His counsel to me included...

"we get to a point in our lives where the Spirit becomes our teacher, fully and completely. Of course, we still have those who will give us constructive criticism, but when we get to that point, we don't so much need anyone else telling us what we need to improve on, we simply need to listen to the Spirit and follow his guidance." I love President Scott SOO much, I can't even describe it!!!

17.  I am most grateful for...

President Scott

Consecration

burying weapons of war

our car heater working

The Spirit being the teacher

Victor :)

Well, I need to head out, but please know that I know this Gospel is true! fully and completely! God lives and loves us! Christ died for all so that through Him, through the Atonement of our Savior and His Gospel, we CAN achieve eternal salvation! "We are saved through the grace of Christ, who paid the price of our sins. Our works, such as repentance and keeping the commandments, do not save us, but they are requirements set by the Savior to help transform us. God's grace is divine power to help us with all of our shortcomings and is available to us at all times." (Ensign 2013) Let's share it with all! How GREAT is our calling!!

Love for now and for ever,

Sister De Groot :)

Missionary Invitation: ponder over your testimony of the priesthood and the capabilities of that power upon the Earth today, the blessings it's brought to your life. Then share it via a social network. Helaman 5:10-11, 47-50. That power has been restored, but the reason some don't accept it, is because they don't yet know! Let's share it! :)