the cold never bothered me anyway: come what may, and love it

I think the caption to this email is going to say it all! HELLO EVERYONE FROM CANADA! the most beautiful of all. the most perfect place. hello hello hello!! oh, you wanna know what area I am in? drum roll everyone drum roll........................... SIDNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! right by Victoria, a little island that people actually prefer OVER Victoria :)

my trainer, you could imagine how nervous I was in the transfer meeting but Faith overcame my Fear when I saw Sister Van Tienderen! she is from SLC and has been out 14 months! SUCH A HARD WORKER. the first day we got here, we arrived at like 5. and you betcha we were out finding people. we rode a ferri to our island and I was the happiest I have ever been. heck, I WAS ON A FERRI IN CANADA! THIS IS MY HOME! she is such a sweetheart, I KNOW that God is aware of us all. I tell you that every week. but SERIOUSLY. she is so grateful for me and my faith to baptize the world, and I am grateful for her patience in teaching me all I need to know. I think the most overwhelming feeling is just getting to know everyone and their names. I MEET SO MANY PEOPLE EACH DAY I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAMES!!! haha truly, truly, everyone, I am grateful for my trainer.

let me tell you about my first experience finding. so finding time is from 5-7 and we go all over this place. but the first day we went by the ocean where everyone was at a swap meet thing. NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE wanted to talk to us. we would try so hard, and then people would just say for instance "you're full of crap!" HELLO PEOPLE IM JUST A LITTLE GIRL WANTING TO SHARE THE TRUE HAPPINESS WITH YOU! that is when I got discouraged. it went on all night. but as I got home I decided to study my heart out. because dangit all, I needed so much help. I needed more faith. I needed confidence in the Savior Jesus Christ that HE would provide the way. because this isn't me, it's him teaching. I found myself on my knees. pleading with my heavenly father, to help me. to show me his hand in his work. and he did.

we are teaching a wonderful couple that I absolutely adore! they are getting married in September, and she is getting baptized a week after!!! (he is already baptized but not active) NOTHING is greater than watching others come unto Christ.

yesterday we were finding at the ocean again, and we were FULL OF FAITH! and whatever came our way, we loved it. we laughed. we had fun. as we were walking a big Mexican guy and his white wife were walking toward us, so we started talking to them! we introduced our purpose and the gospel. he was in AWE! he was like "you're kidding? WHAT? you have this book of Mormon? Jesus is going to come again? YOU KNOW THIS? WHAT!?" I wanted to just squeeze him!!!!!!!!! as I bore my testimony YES YES WE HAVE ALL OF THIS ISN'T IT A MIRACLE! we talked for a bit, and he was just amazed. definitely a PREPARED SOUL! too bad they live in Seattle, but that's ok, we started that seed :) he will get baptized, I know it.

Sunday was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a ward so into missionary work than this one. each lesson we have we have a member, and they know ALL of our investigators and they are SO INTO IT! seriously, fam, we gotta pick it up in Utah ;) they are so welcoming. it is much different that a Utah ward, but you know, I've come to find out, this is the best way to be a Mormon.

I studied Helamen 5 today. I don't think ive ever realized how amazing that story is. it was exactly for me at this time. I want to be like Nephi and Lehi, powerful missionaries that had SO MUCH FAITH! when they were cast into prison.. that didn't stop them! they weren't burned! because they had courage and they new the power of God! what examples to me. I can't wait to talk to them some day.

OKKKK ARE YOU READY TO LAUGH? no. don't laugh. its discusting. so a couple days ago, we went to do service at Bishops home. they have chickens and llambs and the whole works. its a mad house. grandpa- you'd be so proud of me. I cleaned the chicken coop. HAHA but that's not all. as I was cleaning all the food of the ground and stuff, I managed to pick up POO with it. yes, poo. on. my. hand. I could have died!!!!!!!!!! but like I said. come what may, and love it. I don't think I could ever "love" that experience, but it was a good laugh :)

family, I am SO happy! not only is this place beautiful, but I know there are prepared souls also. and if they aren't- heck im going to make them prepared!! this is Gods work. his salvation. and the only way we can receive true happiness is from him. keep being you, but most importantly, BE THE PERSON GOD MADE YOU TO BE! share his gospel!!! muah!!!!

xoxo sister ovard