"It's Called Eternal Progression"

Mum, PahPea, Family and Friends!

Hello all!! what a wonderful and beautifully sunny week here in Mississauga! We are doing so well and loving every second of the work!! I may or may not have gotten a little burnt in the past couple days but it's not bad, so don't you worry! it's just really hot out here! haha Love it dearly! :) I'm glad to hear preschool and work and all those things are going well back there, know that I pray for you all daily!! :)

so...how about we do some QUESTION TIME. mmm k? :)

1.  Have you received any mail - letters or packages - from home?

I got a letter from Amber and a package from you!!! :) Thanks so much, oreos is creating all these fantastic flavors of excitement! I mean, fruit punch?? It was awesome!! :) Thank you so much for all your support and love, it really does mean a lot!!! love you all!!!

2. and 3. sorry....I keep forgetting....

4.  What was the last song you sang?

adam-ondi-ahman :)

5.  Describe today's "feeling in the air"...?

rejuvenated excitement to help our investigators progress and starting anew in our teaching pool! :) plus, "relatively cool temperatures so..can't complain, really." Thank you Elder Christensen from the district 2 :)

6.  How is Krusho doing?

He's doing well, was able to come to church yesterday and the Family History Fireside that our stake had last night which me and 3 sisters from here in Mississauga sang at. The Spirit was so strong as we heard President and Sister Scott bear testimony of the reality of the Plan of Salvation and family history. I just love those two. :) krusho is having a hard time understanding why we pray and we've realized that we need to take it back to our Savior Jesus Christ, and help him understand that God is truly our loving Heavenly Father. So please pray that he'll come to that understanding and that we can teach with the Spirit. thank you!

7.  Who else are you teaching?

honestly? not really anyone else. we're in a major cleansing period to find the elect and we're excited about it! Please pray that we may do everything in our power to find those the Lord has prepared for us to teach! I love Mississauga so much!!! :)

8.  What have you found (this past week) to be your most effective teaching technique?

Getting out of the way, to allow the Spirit to be there and work in complete unity with my companion. you can simply teach 'well' with your companion, but there is absolute power when you work hard to teach in unity with the Spirit. Miracles happen when you testify! LOVE IT!

9.  How often do you meet with President Scott?  (interviews)

every other transfer. Just had interviews with him this past Friday!! Sadly, it was my last one with him. they go home in June. :( ah man, I can't imagine this mission without those two!! I know everything happens for a reason and the new President and his wife will be great, but when you serve around someone this long, it's hard to imagine another. We talked a lot about things we have both learned and serving our Father with everything we have. He mentioned he had learned a lot about submitting himself to the will of the Lord and changing his prayers to those of faith. (he loves Elder Bednar, so you can read 'pray with faith' I fell like he lives by that talk!! :)) They're just incredible, the Scotts!! :)

FINISH MY SENTENCE:

10. When Sister Howle and I met.....

we were so happy to have a connection back home!!! she's just so cute! :)

11. Other exchanges included....

SISTER WALDRON!!!!!! oh my goodness. I love her. I came out with her and she was a sister training leader for a SUPER long time and God needs her in the YSA in the new Toronto ward and oh my goodness, she's INCREDIBLE!!! seriously. so. great. She's just so diligence, loving, happy, reverent, and Christlike. I love and have so much respect for consecrated missionaries so much!!! :)

12. When I think of USA's "Memorial Day" (today), my heart and mind turn to....

the sacrifice of all those who believed in freedom and peace! I am so grateful for those in my life and those I have not met who have served and gave their lives for our country! Thank you so much for all you do, I can promise you, your service is not unnoticed! I am so proud to be an American!! 

13. I felt so guided when...

we had skills and interviews this past Friday. The zone leaders, Elder Tan and Elder Binford, prepared an incredible skills training for us on teaching 'through Christ, we can be cleansed from sin'. I had an epiphany of how sometimes we focus on so many things that we need to improve and change and altar to become better teachers, instruments in His hands, etc, and we overlook the most important simplicities - that all things are done through Christ. If it were not for His sacrifice and resurrection, we could not progress. that simple. We did a role play with Sister Dyer and Sister Fisher and the Spirit was SOO strong when both of us role played, ah it was incredible. The Spirit is powerful, the most important tool in converting ourselves to the Savior. How grateful I am for His guidance!

14. If it hadn't been for serving a mission, I don't know when I would have learned....

how real our Father's plan is. seriously. Life is not gone or even limited at death, because of our Savior Jesus Christ, life CONTINUES! there's merely a veil separating the two spheres of life. It's all real life. it's all a period of living. it's all a step for our growth. President Scott said something yesterday that I loved, he said "because we are here on this Earth, we already agreed to follow our Father's plan; and our part in that  plan is eternal progression." He's so wise. we did sign up to progress constantly and consistently. Doesn't mean to overwhelm ourselves with things we need to do, just to be a little better tomorrow than we were today. :)

15. In preparation to entering the MTC on Wednesday, I would like to tell Meagan...

YOU ARE GOING TO DO GREAT MISSY!!!!! You have always had such a beautiful and powerful testimony of the Savior, continue to share that with all and know that progression is necessary and perfection is impossible. seriously. it is. :) I love you my sister, Godspeed, how great is our calling!

16. Did you know that....

Canadians exercise a lot? it's true. they do. :)

17. Something new I discovered about Sister Stoddard this week is....

she smiles even when she has a migraine so strong she feels like she's going to throw up. seriously. who is this adorably happy person?? :)

I love my companion!!!  :0)

18. My favorite study session centered on....

the effects of the Atonement :) His sacrifice is absolutely beautiful and humbling. I love it.

19. I am SO grateful for....

My Savior

revelation from leaders

exchanges

Sister Stoddard

humility

Family History

Well, I am off! I love you all so much and hope you feel of my testimony as I know that our Savior Lives! This work is not just fun or a good experience or to prepare me for the future; this IS the work of Almighty God and it is to CHANGE the world! I know it. and you know, so please, continue to share it and know that your Father in Heaven sees your efforts, even if no one else does! How great is our calling!

Love for now and for ever,

Sister De Groot :)

Missionary Invitation: when was the last time you studied how to get started to update your family history efforts? Preach My Gospel has a tremendous section of Family History, you should read it! :) and then apply! Invite your friends, everyone wants to know their family!!!

I believe in Christ, so come what may!!

Mum, Pahpea, family and friends!!!

What a wonderful week!  I started it off as a 21 year old and well, now....I`m 22!!! weird, eh? yeah I think so. :) I love MIssissauga so so so much and LOVE being here with Sister Stoddard, she`s such an incredible missionary and I`m learning so much from her!!! We`re laughing every possible second and working harder than we ever have! I love it!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN HOOLEY!!!! goodness I love you. I Hope you have the greatest birthday ever!! I am thinking and praying for you! LOVE YOU!!! happy birthday!!

so.....QUESTION TIME!

1.  Did you have an enjoyable birthday?  (details!!)

I sure did, thanks to you all!!!! :) we had gone to panda express and they gave me a free stuffed panda!! we named him thanh. long story. :) oh! and funny thing....I put my wallet and the phone into our panda express bag while we prayed so no one would take it. then when we were done-because I have the memory of a goldfish-I threw away our bag. with my wallet in it. and the phone. ......... my bad. 5 minutes later we went back to fish in the trash can as missionaries. "in all ways be wise and mature in your conduct" -WHB pg 53 Then later we had to go to the office to take care of something with our car and were asked by elder gillen (an office missionary) to step into his office because they got a complaint about our living situation. yeah, we were super nervous, sister stoddard especially. As he's giving us the talk about our routiness, primary music starts playing in the office and he then asks us to go out and see what's happening. We leave to find elder wihongi and elder gibb, the assistants, bouncing up and down with pictures of me when I came into the mission that say "happy birthday Zuster De Groot" to a primary birthday song. oh our assistants...haha we were laughing hysterically! and also, there really is no complaint to our routiness, we were quite relieved! haha throughout the day, we received calls from the sisters singing me happy birthday, the zone leaders giving me a creepy chocolate bunny, Sister Stoddard singing everytime we got in the car "iiiiiiiit's your birthday, HEY HEY HEY!" and then topping the day off with being surprise with an ice cream cake at our Bishops home! THANK YOU!!!! Mom, you are just too sweet! surprised both birthdays, I just love you!  well....I was semi surpised...let's just say the night before we were planning and sister stoddard tells me  that we have another dinner appt with Bishop, to which I say "ah that's nice, is it for my birthday because he just fed us?" and Sister stoddard goes "ah man, I can't keep a secret!!!!!! he's having us over for dinner because your mom is surprising you with an ice cream cake, ok??!!" hahahahaha oh my companion. I love her so much. :) the thought of surprising was great though, thank you!!! haha

2.  Did Bishop Fuller happen to mention that he wouldn't let me pay for your cake?

no he didn't! that's the sweetest thing in the world! ah Bishop. :)

3.  Speaking of the Fuller's, do you happen to have their mailing address?

sorry...I'll find out this week

4.  ALSO speaking of the Fuller's, did you know that they are best friends with a couple who live here in Alpine?  (Once again....such a small world!!)

sure did!! haha

5.  Can't find JJ Degazon on FaceBook.....any other contact info for her?

.....I'm really good at this.....no...this week!

6.  Erin's birthday is on Thursday.  Any message for her?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!!!!!! I love you dearly forever and ever!! I hope you have the greatest day in the whole wide world!!! You're the greatest person ever and the greatest example in the whole wide world!!!! I love you hoodles and bunches! :) happy birthday!!

7.  Thursday is also Michael and Trisha's 5th anniversary.  Anything you want me to tell them for you?

happy anniversary happy anniversary happy anniversary, Haaaaaappy anniversary! WOOH! :) 

8.  How are things going with Natalie?

has been working hard all week to stop smoking and has been doing GREAT! We had great contact with her up until Thursday but then we lost contact. she didn't come to church and we can't contact her. :( We feel that she relapsed and is embarrassed by it, so we're doing our best to help her know we're here for her and will help her out in every situation, regardless. Prayers would be appreciated!

9.  Krusho?

He`s doing well, we`re trying to help him understand the importance of prayer, though, so that he may receive direct answers of the truthfulness of what we share. He`s nervous to pray with us because he wants to do it alone, but then doesn`t when he`s alone. So prayers for him to understand and act on the doctrine we`ll teach him this week would be great!

10.  What are you looking forward to the most this coming week?

SKILLS AND INTERVIEWS!!!!!

so. excited.

FINISH MY SENTENCE:

11.  I've been so excited to tell you....

that I love this work!! and also that it`s just so warm here. ah. I love it! :)

12.  I laughed so hard when....

seriously, I can`t even pinpoint one time, we seriously laugh constantly. like, constantly. :)

13.  Sister Stoddard and I have bonded even more while....

laughing. every. day. :)

14.  My favorite study session this week was on....

Consecration, shocker, eh? :) The whole idea of giving everything you are in its entirety to the Lord so that you may become His is absolutely beautiful to me. 

15.  At church this past Sunday.....

Nicole, our past investigator, showed up to church! as well as this man named Francis who said he wants to investigate the church, he had previously in Florida and wants to be taught again! so he`s being taught by the zone leaders! SOO cool! 

16.  Exchanges this week included.....  (have you met Sister Howle yet?!?)

I have not, I`ll meet her on Saturday, she was so excited to hear about that!! :) Hermana Okelberry in Black Creek North and get this....SISTER DYER IN ETOBICOKE SOUTH!!!!!!! that`s right, I got to go on an exchange with my trainee and it was SOOOOO much fun!!! ah, she`s grown so much, I admire her more than words could ever attempt to describe!!! I LOVE her so much!!! :)

17.  I feel peace and contentment when...

I know that I am doing everything in my power to be a powerful, dedicated, servant of the Lord. :)

18.  An experience this week that I felt real growth happened when....

Our beliefs were challenged very strongly and the Spirit was strong within us as we very softly and lovingly bore testimony of our Savior and the invitation to come unto Him and find out for ourselves. I love the progression I`ve seen within myself to trust the Lord in all aspects and that such situations don`t bring stress to me and nervousness like they did when I first came out. Reliance on the Lord-it`s a beautiful thing. :)

19.  Here are my impressions of "Victoria Day"....

Families are EVERYWHERE!!! I LOVE it!!! i love holidays as a missionary :)

20.  I am so grateful for...

holidays as a missionary

`surprises` on my birthday 

Humility

our Savior

The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

I am off! I hope you all have a WONDERFUL week full of the Gospel! For it is true! I love my Savior, I know this work is true! and how GREAT is my calling!

Love for now and for ever,

Sister De Groot :)

Missionary Invitation: PMG says to study the words of living prophets SO! read over the General Conference Ensign this month, pick your favorite or a lesson you learned, and share it on your social media! see how many get passed around the internet this week! :)

Alma 31:5

Mum, PahPea, Family and Friends!!

I hope all of you wonderful mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, daughters and grandmothers feel the gratitude of your service as a worthy daughter of your Heavenly Father and the impact you have upon the many generations here upon the Earth and those entering in. Please look at this incredible video and take it as my tribute to all you wonderful women! :) http://motherhood.mormon.org/ happy Mother's Day!!!

and a little shout out to Ryan!! HAPPY BIRTDHAY RY-PIE!!! I hope you have the greatest day in the whole wide world! I'll eat some Canadian treats for you and sing you happy birthday with sister stoddard. She'll be thrilled. we often do spontaneous happenings, so this will just fit right in! :) Have a WONDERFUL birthday, Ryan! Love you!!

hmm...I think it's about time for some questions. sound good?

1.  What were your impressions of Nina, Elin, Joshua and Megan?

one-they're all SOOO big!

two-they're all SOOO old!!!

and tres-THEY'RE SOOO CUTE!!!!

2.  What did you do the remainder of Mothers Day?

taught taught taught! :)

3.  Did you enjoy your skype session nearly as much as I did?  :0)

I sure did!!!! oh my goodness, I loved hearing/seeing you all yesterday. honestly, it was fantastic!! I love you all SOOO much!

4.  What are your plans for the rest of P-day?

shopping, cleaning and preparing! nothing too specific yet...we tend to be spontaneous on preparation days :)

5.  Where will you spend your birthday?  (Mississauga, on exchange, etc.)

Mississauga, on a day in between exchanges, and ending the day going on exchange with my baby, sister dyer!!! :)

6.  Any message for Ryan, who turns 23 on Friday?

*look above :) ps I think you're pretty great (!)

7. Do you have the smallest inkling of how much I love and appreciate you?

uh....I think so...? :)

FINISH MY SENTENCE:

8.  Our teaching pool consists of...

wow...I can't fully explain all in our teaching pool, I'll be honest. But those who are truly progressing at this time include Natalie who is striving hard to live the Word of Wisdom so she can be baptized on June 8, Krusho who randomly showed up to church after I gave him a card beginning of last transfer. SOO cool! Sharlene and Sharaya have had a lot going on in their lives lately, so we're working with the Lord to know what to do to help her the most this week, we'll keep you posted

9.  The highlight of my week was...

Well of course seeing my family!! :) and hearing Krusho pray the most sincere prayer of wanting to know truth. 

10.  The most challenging part of my week included...

getting kicked out of an apartment building...yeah...it's true. The reason being because we talked with everyone we came in contact with about the Restored Gospel of our Savior and they didn't like that....so....yeah we can't go back. woops...

11.  I overcame that challenge by...

Trusting that everything works for a reason, maybe God doesn't need us back there for a while. Looking for the positives! :) also. I feel bad they have a bad image of the Church now because of us. But it all works out. hopefully nicer missionaries contact them on the street a year down the road or so :)

12.  I felt the Spirit so strongly this week when...

I was able to speak in the Chinese group at our building in their sacrament meeting and although I truly could not understand a word they were saying, the Spirit was so strong. I love the Spirit, a universal language. :)

13.  Sister Stoddard and I bonded over...

prayer. it's incredible how much a relationship is strengthened through sincere and diligent companionship prayer. you should try it out :)

14.  Exchanges this week were...

Hermana Guerra here in Mississauga North! Brand new missionary, been out for 3 weeks and seriously that girl has no fear. She talks with everyone, is confident, can teach incredibly well, man who are these missionaries and where did they get their training!?! haha She's incredible!

15.  The Study Session from this week that stands out the most is...

The atonement. right now I'm reading the Book of Mormon with the question of "Why Jesus Christ?" so that I may understand better His divine mission and role in our Father's plan so that I may help those without a Christian understanding feel the importance of our Savior.

16.  I am so excited for...

birthday cake. how sad is that? :)

17.  I am so grateful for...

skype :)

prayer

my companion

mormon.org

The Gospel. the Good News! :)

Well, I'm off! I love you all! This Gospel is true, don't you doubt it. It's true! :) How great is our calling!

Love for now and for ever,

Sister De Groot :)

Missionary Invitation: share the above mormon.org/motherhood on facebook, twitter and wherever else, share the wonderful message of the Church through simple ways! I LOVE YOU!!

1 Nephi 17:8-10

Mum, PahPea, Family and Friends!

Hello sunshines!! I hope this letter finds all of you happy and well! I am doing so, for Christ lives and this Church is true, so really, nothing else matters! :) I am so happy to hear about the safe arrival of sweet little Marshall Scott! Welcome to mortality, kiddo, it's pretty great! :) He's just the cutest thing in the whole wide world! It's crazy to see their family picture, for the last time I saw them, there were 6 in the family and know there are 8!! CRAZY!! haha I'm so proud of you, Erin! Congratulations!

Also, how about a shout out to todays birthday boy....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY-BUDDY!!! it being sweet cinco de mayo, I would like to treat you to cafe rio (well...I would if I was there...) because mexican food here is really just not as great as it is there, so I would like to treat you to that! :) ok, I'll actually treat you in the future, but not now. we'll celebrate then, mmm k? :) I hope you have the greatest birthday in the whole wide world!!! I love you!!

QUESTION TIME!!!

1.  Do you know a Sister Howle (serving in your mission) from Texas?

sure do! I'm going on exchanges with her in 2 weeks! :)

2.  Any message for your new nephew, Marshall Scott Hooley?

Welcome welcome, little one! Truly born of goodly parents!! :)

3.  Any message for Michael, celebrating his 27th today?

look above :)

p.s. I'll eat cake over here, just for you! :)

4.  What about a message for Bill/Whitney, celebrating their 8th anniversary tomorrow (6th)?

8th wedding anniversary!!?? crazy! I'm so happy for you two, I seriously look up to you both so much! thanks for being incredible, keep on being wonderful, you two!!! :) Love you!!! Congratulations!

5.  Finally, any words of wisdom for Tanner Wheadon who gets married this weekend?

wow...crazy!! CONGRATULATIONS Tanner!!!!! SO happy for you two, I hope the day is just wonderful for the two of you!! also. brother whooley says hi! He remembers you from forever ago here in mississauga :)

6.  MOTHER's DAY phone call....do you have any specifics for me?  (What number to call/skype (do we get to skype again?!?), what time, etc.  FYI - we have church from 9am-noon....that's 11am-2pm your time)

We're planning on doing it at 6 our time. We'll have the individual contact you and make specifics, it's our bishop, he's pretty great :) and yes, we get to skype again :):) see you then!! *weird....:)

7  Are you nearly as excited to talk to me as I am to talk to you?!?

haha sure am mom!!! :)

8.  How is Sharlene progressing?  Sharaya?

SUPER sick, but she is reading and praying, please keep praying for them both

9.  What is the update with Alyssia?

Her mom wasn't very happy that she let strangers in. (us). so she said that they'll read on their own for now and then see if they'd like us back. they will in the future, we have full faith. it was a blessing we were able to meet with just her so that we would be allowed to share a message with her and help her understand our message of truth and finding that out for ourselves. Miracles are continuing to happen each and every day in their lives!! It's incredible to be a witness of it!

10.  Any more info on her mom, uncle, and whether or not her dad had ever been baptized?

not yet...working on it! :)

FINISH MY SENTENCE:

11.  I had the most incredible feeling come over me when...

We contacted a sweet man whose wife is in the hospital battling cancer. Our Father truly knows us individually and loves us as such, let us pray for each other and then serve each other constantly, for we do not know what's going on in each others lives until we become invested in them! Love all! :)

12.  My favorite study session of the week centered on...

Accepting and doing the Lord's will. which is why I chose 1 Nephi 17:8-10 today. It stuck out to me that the Lord commanded Nephi to build a ship and Nephi did not question how that would be possible to say "Heavenly Father, you're asking a lot of me" or think he was inadequate. rather, he responded by asking where he needed to go to find the tools to construct this ship. Why are we not more like this? we truly can respond without feelings of inadequacy, hesitancy, we can respond with firm faith and trust in the Lord that He WILL show us where we need to go to find the tools needed to accomplish that which He commands us. Faith and trust goes a long way, even to the parting of the Red Sea.

13.  This week's exchanges included....(where).....(and with whom)....

both here with Sister Bradshaw and Hermana Ramirez! :)

14.  After emailing, Sister Stoddard and I plan to....

Clean the Car, shop, go to the office for some supplies and excitement, and probably eat at some time. because I can hear both of our stomachs right now... :)

15.  "Companion Bonding" this week brought to you by....

a giant Jamaican centipede at 6:33 in the morning, a bleach spray bottle, boots and duct tape to ensure we don't scream and wake up our landlord. good times. :)

16.  Since "laughter is good for the soul", I laughed so hard when....

we finally killed the centipede and realized how ridiculous we looked. :)

17.  A goal I am working on is....

to be like Nephi, and never question what the Lord puts in my path. Become a Christlike missionary in all aspects of the work! for I LOVE this work!!! :)

18.  I couldn't believe it when....

I realized I now have 13 nieces and nephews. I'm old, eh? :)

19.  I am so grateful for....

duct tape. truly comes in handy :)

packages getting to my parents in time for mothers day :)

enthusiasm

Christlike Attributes

trials. really. I am. never thought I'd say that....

:)

Well, I'm off but please know that I love you dearly! This Gospel is true, I know it is! I have felt countless times in my heart the reality of the this message. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, standing side by side, as 2 different distinct beings. Don't doubt it for a second, it happened. I know my Savior Lives! and He is the one watching over this work! I love it here every day, the joy and the tears alike! I know this is true, how GREAT is our calling!! :)

Love for now and for ever,

Sister De Groot :)

Missionary Invitation: The Spirit works in many different ways to teach us of truth and to use us as tools to aid in the Lord's work. My favorite text to read to help understand how He works with us is in PMG page 89-91, chapter 4. It's incredible. I'd like to invite you to read it and to record your impressions of how He speaks directly to you. 

pictures: 

centipede. ew.

my posterity of sister training leaders :)

sister hansen. i just love her! :)