November 9th... Finally found good mexican food on the east coast

Hello Everyone :)

What a good week this was!! The week itself was slightly uneventful but at church we had 2 less actives, an investigator and a potential who we met on friday attend :) So the Sunday really made up for the rest of the week!! 

I cannot remember if i mentioned this in last weeks email... if i did i am going to emphasize the excitement of it again... WE FINALLY FOUND GOOD MEXICAN FOOD IN THE EAST COAST. I feel that only those who have served here will understand this excitement... but it really is quite wonderful. We went there this week to celebrate Sister Fenn's 18 month mark!! It sure is a mix of emotions hitting these point in your mission... tomorrow i hit my 14 month mark and my plan is to pretend that its my 4 month mark.... woohooo for 4 months!!

This week we went to an international student event at Dal, and they have this program where once a week a bunch of international students come together and basically just talk... (to practice their English)  and so obviously it is the perfect place for us to go!! We went with a recent convert from China named Sharon and we just talked to people, we ended up getting 3 potentials and one of the people came to church on sunday!! It was funny cause one of the english volunteers there was a girl who we street contacted into just a couple days before and she shut us down pretty hard... you could tell she felt awkward having us there, but hey... its only awkward if you make it awkward right?

Anyways, i am really excited for this new finding tool we now have! And we are starting up a institute class on campus hopefully this week. I get so excited when we continue to find so many ways to work on campus!!

From what i hear there is a whole lot of nonsense being talked about with the churches handbook change regarding the kids of a same sex relationship. It's times like this where i am happy i can avoid hearing all these silly things on the internet... i think that the simple way to put it is just to remember who is giving this new commandment.

So i had the most wonderful morning before emails today! We (as in me, Sister Fenn and the Assistants) met with the Institute teacher here Brother Cartier. The reasoning for it is was because i asked him about how i can better read the old testament. It is something that i have a hard time reading because it usually leads to confusion... both in the language and understanding. And with this question i ended up learning SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYTHING. Mainly about how everything links back to the plan of happiness. Throughout this discussion we talked on plural marriage, blacks and the priesthood, and the new handbook change. All i can say in the email (because it would take forever to explain everything) is that God knows what He is doing. Thats it. His ways are higher then our ways, and if we prayerfully study these things out, and do not base our opinions and the opinions of man, then we will be able to find ultimate truth. 

I feel so blessed to have the knowledge of this gospel in my life. Everything this gospel brings it so remarkable and leads to such immense joy. I feel so blessed. I am grateful to be sharing this with those that i meet, and i pray every day to find those who are ready to accept it.

I love and miss everyone back home, i hope you are all doing well!!

Love, 

Sister Lambert :) 

September 7th.... 1 Year Anniversary

Yes yes, the rumors are true.... I HAVE BEEN OUT FOR A YEAR. my goodness.... it's crazy. 

This week as flown by!!!! Moncton. Dartmouth and NFLD Zone conference.... so much fun! But i am a wee bit tired now... just a little bit. The conference was jam packed with info and it was very uplifting and inspiring! We had the couple who is in charge of the medical stuff in our mission (and like 6 other missions) come and give us a training on how to stay healthy and stress free. Then Brother Cartier who is the CES representative in the east coast (and the institute teacher here in Halifax) gave us a training on how to study the scriptures and get the most out of our personal study. That was an awesome training! It is amazing how much you can get out of a single verse of scripture. 

THEN President gave a training on member presents and near the end said "and now the STLTs are going to train you on IPERF" (a new concept that we had just learned about from president the night before) So we had zero idea he wanted us to train on it.... and we barely understood it ourselves....but we did it. And it turned out pretty good. It was a fun surprise.... 

It was so great going back to Newfoundland again! Me and Sister Fenn both served there so it was a good time. And my old comp Sister Pitcher was just made STL there so we got to go on exchanges with them :) It was a struggle getting to NFLD though. The assistants put my name on the ticket as Emily Fenn, so i couldnt use the ticket. And to get my name changed on the ticket was a hour and a half long process.... and the check in for my flight was closing in 10 minutes... so i had to buy a whole new ticket (didnt help that it was 5am so nobody was answering the phone) ive decided that airports are the biggest rip off in the world... so sneaky with all there hidden fees and silly rules. anyways, it was great once i got there but a bit stressful. I had a nice chat with the assistants after that. But all is well!!!! 

I am loving serving with Sister Fenn, she is so fun!!! We are getting along great :) 

I may have sinned.... i didnt write in my journal all week.... MY BAD! so i dont have much to tell...Sister Fenn almost got hit by a car in Halifax and then we got in a car crash in NFLD. THAT was fun. I would tell details, but i think its funner to just leave it at that. 

The greatest thing that i learned at Zone Conference is that their are two reasons to read the scriptures: 

1.To be changed

2.To obtain light and truth that will save me, my family, and those i serve. 

And if these are not the reasons we have in mind as we read, then they need to become the reason! 

Thanks for the emails and the support, It is a blessing to reflect every monday on the love and care i receive from those at home. Love you all lots :) 

Sister Lambert 

August 24... Lots of Training

Oh well hello everyone.... Long time no talk! 

Okay. CRAZY heat wave has hit Nova Scotia.... IM DYING HERE.

This has been a pretty crazy week! First off, I am now in a trio!!! But just for the week. One of the cole harbour sisters got sick and needed to go home and so sister Smith is now here with us in Halifax 😊 it has been a blast since she speaks some Chinese and our investigators love it! So Sister Smith and Sister Howell are BOTHA going home on Thursday soooo this is going to be a short email, I got two dying missionaries to keep busy here! 

We had transfer letters!!! Drum role..... I'm staying here in Hali (WOOHOO) and Sister Fenn is going to be my new companion! Which I am so excited about because I love her! She is so fun! 2 days before transfers I was telling president that I had a feeling that Sister Fenn was going to be my companion (because we are the only STLs that have been out for 2 transfers, everyone else is newer or going home) and so when I saw him at our weekly meeting on Sunday he's like "I didn't make her your companion cause you asked me to okay? Don't think you can just go around requesting companions..." Hahaha I get what I want here.... Guess you could say I run the show 😉

This next transfer is going to be CRAZY. I'm over 6 sets of sisters now. That wouldn't be too crazy but it doesn't help that they are spread over the whole mission. So I have to help train 4 new STLs and then I have 2 sets of regular missionaries as well. I'm going to be going to Newfoundland again next week because I might be giving a training at zone conference and to go on exchanges with the sisters there... Then we are going to be teaching all of our investigators as well as the assistants investigators because they are going to be traveling with the member 70 that is touring the mission this transfer. So they will basically be out of there area for 2-3 week. All while trying to fit in my 5 other exchanges in the first 3 weeks of the transfer. Woohoo..... Oh, and president said that he wants me to become an "expert" in working on campus. Since our mission focus is going to be on the YSA and institute he is going to give me this transfer to get really good at working on campus and then the next transfer train the mission on it... He told it to me AND the assistants but they are going to be gone for pretty much the first 3 weeks of the transfer so they put it on me... And sister Fenn of course, but she doesn't know it yet. So this transfer has felt so crazy and went by sooo fast... And next transfer is going to be even more crazy and go by even faster! But it's okay.... We got this...with a whole lot of the Lord’s help. 

I'm sorry but I have no spiritual thought this week! We went to Peggy's Cove today with Ryan and the Tegge girls (they are from Edmonton, one went to school here and the other served her mission here) it was lots of fun! 

Love you, I might not have time to respond personally to very many of you! Sorry!!! 

July 20.... Halifax

Well hello everyone!! What a fun week this has been!

I am now in Halifax and i am loving every moment!!!! I am just so excited about everything that has to do with missionary work right now!

So it was sad leaving Cole Harbour, since Sister Shannon was going home we spent more time than i usually would during transfers saying goodbye to members, packing, and preparing the maps and books for the new sisters coming in.
On our last day we decided to go knocking in North Preston. For those who are not aware (and im sure most of you are not) North Preston is the largest black community in all of North America! And it was sooooo much fun. There is not a single white person in the whole area and we were getting the weirdest looks. Cars would drive past us, turn around and drive past us again like 6 times. I think a lot of them thought we worked for the government or something. There were some moments where i thought i was going to get jumped.... but i didn't. so all is well. Everyone we talked to was sooo nice... super Baptist, but so nice. It was a good time haha 

We went to the temple for transfers and it was weird saying bye to Sister Shannon after as well as Sister Spencer who was one of my trainers!! 2/3 of my trainers are home, and the 3rd (Sister Mangelson) is going home at the end of this transfer.... crazy!

And now Halifax! It is so so great here! Sister Howell is great! We get along really well and i have so much to learn from her! And everyone here is so ready and prepared to hear the gospel! Just the other day we walked around our apartment to a bus stop and got 5 potentials and set up 3 lessons.... THAT NEVER HAPPENS. only in Halifax... We are currently teaching 2 people from China, 2 from Nepal, and 1 girl from Bolivia... it is so diverse and exciting here! (and we are teaching a couple canadians of course...) But this has been a very humbling time for me! It has been a great because i am learning to teach more simply and take out the filler words in my sentences. (which im sure you can tell by the million run on sentences in my emails) 

So we are covering both the family and Ysa ward in Halifax. It is a hoot and a half. We went to the church at 8:30am for correlation and then didn't leave till 4:30pm, just enough time to make some calls and then head to the mission home for dinner and a meeting with President & Sister Pratt and the APs, that meeting goes till 8pm and then we ran to a lesson with a Child of Record we are teaching. it was a looong day. And it is going to be like that every sunday!! woohoo!  

I am really excited for the responsibilities we are given for this transfer (now that i know what they actually are) This upcoming week we get to travel to my favorite place of Fredericton NB for zone training, and then go on exchanges with the STLs in St. John. In a couple weeks President is flying us out to NFLD for exchanges which i am so excited about! Me and Sister Howell both served in St.Johns so we are hoping we get to spend some time there in our travels! 

OH and i have a ipad!!! Only about 6 missionaries in the mission have them, us, the APs and 2 other elders. They are so handy to have!

When we met with President Pratt on sunday we talked about the focus for this upcoming transfer, what the members need, the missionaries need, and what we need to do to strengthen the missionary success here. Our focus is on keeping the sabbath day holy. It is the Churches focus right now and is really such a simple answer to so many diverse and complex issues. And as missionaries, we can sometime be surprisingly bad and keeping the sabbath day holy. Not in the way of playing sports. But we are bad at making Sunday separate from every other day. Since we focus so much on the Lords work everyday, it makes it hard to remember that sunday needs to be different from every other day. We are going to be focusing a lot on encouraging missionaries to finish all they need to do before sunday, and use the sabbath day as a time to meet with member in the ward, less actives, and doing service. I have come to know as i have studies the purpose of the sabbath the many blessings that come as we focus on the savior. There is a talk called "The Sabbath is a delight" by Elder Nelson that talks about how we need to not focus on the things we can't do on sunday but instead focus on the good things, that blessings that come. I hope everyone can take a moment to read or listen to that talk and consider there own sabbath day activities! My favorite part of the talk is when he says "

my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father.12 With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear."

I feel blessed for these opportunities given to me. This transfer is going to be a huge growing experience for me! I Cant wait to see what lies ahead. 

Lobsters, Nuns. and Transfers

Transfer time has come waay to fast. I was pretty calm about transfers since i had just gotten to Cole Harbour and my companion was going home i knew i was going to stay here and i was already 90% sure who my companion was going to be. All was well. Then we get to the church with the Elders.... and my NAME IS NOT UNDER COLE HARBOUR. So i am getting transferred. I am going to be serving in the Halifax YSA ward as an STLT... Sister Training Leader Trainer....I don't even know all that this entails but from what i understand It is nothing too crazy. It just means that instead of being over the regular sisters we are over the STLs and go on exchanges and do trainings with them. I am excited! It will be so much fun :) although i am very sad i had such a short time here in Cole Harbour. i really loved it here. Maybe i will come back! 

My new companion is Sister Howell! She served with Sister Pizzey and she is an awesome missionary! i am really excited to serve with her, im going to learn a lot from her in this time. She is going home in a transfer so i will have to learn as much as i can in this next 6 weeks! 

So last monday we went it Pier 21, it is a museum. Pier 21 is where all the immigrants came into Canada back when the east coast was a bumpin' place. It was cool from a family history perspective but also pretty boring from a 19 year old girl with a short attention span perspective. I got some pretty sweet pictures though. 

I went on exchanges in New Glasgow this week which was fun. I was with Sister Taylor again. this time we didn't run out of gas which was a nice improvement from last time... We went to a Lobster Carnival (only in the east coast) and we later knocked on a house that had a bunch of Catholic Nuns living in it... they thought it was great that we were Sisters to, and how we started so young... we corrected them a bit and talked for a while. They ended up taking a Book Of Mormon which is pretty cool.... 

I big personal barrier was broken this week. I sang a duet with sister Shannon in sacrament meeting this sunday. i was beyond terrified but it actually went really well. It started as a way to get a less-active to church. He played the guitar to Nearer My God To Thee and we sang, the second verse Sister Shannon played the flute. It turned out really nice. 

I continue to feel so blessed for the many opportunities i have been given on my mission. I was reflecting on this in my personal study and came across Mosiah 2:22 -24

  And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

and then again in 41:And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. 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. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

THAT IS WHY. I always knew of this promise of course. But i had such a confirming moment that i was doing the will of the Lord, i was following his commandments. And it is because of this i feel happier than i have ever felt. i get to teach people about something that can bring happiness into every situation. I get to help the sisters in this mission progress and feel confident about there abilities as well as learn from each of them. And i have friends and family from home giving me constant encouragement and love. 

 Alma 26:12

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I hope everyone can have an opportunity to reflect on the blessings they have received. And if you feel that you are in need of more blessings, reflect on the things that you feel may not be aligned with Gods will and change it. Because this promise of obedience leading to happiness is for everyone! 

Love you all, i will get off the soap box for the time being. 

Love, 

Sister Lambert :)

June 1st.... transfer to Cole Harbour, NS

So transfers letters have come... and they are pretty crazy... but i think that maybe i'll just tell you about it another time... 

JUST KIDDING (don't kill me mom) They are finally sick of me here in Fredericton and kicking me out.... I am going to be serving in Cole Habour Nova Scotia as a Sister Training Leader.... you may ask "Sister Lambert, does President really think that you can be an STL?" and my answer would be "i guess so..." you may follow up with a "But why?" and my answer would be "I DON'T KNOW" but... i know that the Lord knows i can do it, which must mean that i can do it. And so i am very excited to be serving these sisters! I also get to live right beside the temple which is SO exciting!! And i will be serving by the mission home for President and Sister Leavitt's last month in the mission and get to be here for the new mission president coming in! So that will be fun :) 

My new companion with be Sister Shannon and i know nothing about her except i'm pretty sure she is from Ontario.... but that's all my knowledge. 

I am very very sad to be leaving Fredericton... i have grown great freindship's with a lot of members and i will miss the people that we are working with. I am so lucky to have gotten to know the people here and i am so grateful for social media so that i can stay in touch with many of my now close friends! After i gave my leaving testimony in the ward one girl did the hunger games whistle and held up the 3 fingers (for anyone who has seen the hunger games movie) it was SUPER inappropriate but pretty funny...  

I am sad to leave the young women here. We had a really awesome lesson with one of them about modesty the other day. My and this girls mind work the exact same and so i relate to her perfectly. It was a great spirit filled lesson that really reminded me of why I am here and that we as missionaries are sent to specific places for a reason. I know that i needed to be here in Fredericotn for this time but now the Lord has work for me to do in Cole Harbour. 

Our last Pday was a pretty fun way to end my time here, we went to a waterfall with the Elders and a older member of the ward. He loves taking pictures so got a ton of pictures of us. He even made us pose in a few of them so some of the pictures looks like cheesy 60's family portraits. It's awesome. 

I don't know if any of you saw it on the news, but Fredericton had a pretty crazy flash flood this week. Nothing bad, no serious damage but the power was out for a while and the weather was pretty insane. But do you know what sucks? I MISSED IT. We were on exchanges so i was in St.John and missed all the cool craziness.... but oh well.... 

To end off, i had an amazing experience with family history this week! I would like to tell you all a small tale of my ancestor Gudmund Gudmonson. He and his wife and 10 kids were baptized into The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in Iceland in the late 1800's and moved to Utah after being rejected from family and neighbors for there beliefs. It is a great story and there is lots to tell but for the sake of time and length of the email i want to share one part of the story

 "He was a very religious man and had many faith promoting experiences. He was a great believer and had great faith in prayer. At one time when some of the Saints treated the family so badly father doubted if the Church was right so he prayed to the Lord to guide him and to show him the way. This he soon found and spent his entire life working in the church, paying his honest tithes and offerings."

I know to many this does not seem like that big of a deal. But if Gudmund had chosen at this brief trial of his faith to become offended, resulting in inactivity, who knows if i would be here serving a mission right now. Who knows if his family would have stayed active, then resulting in his grandchildren and great grandchildren not being raised with a knowledge of the gospel. I know this may seem a bit extreme but i have worked with soo many less actives who have chosen to be offended, and because of it, their kids aren't baptized, or they have taken on the attitude of there parents, creating a hate for the church, then losing the joy they could have found in the gospel, simply because they had parent who chose to be offended. It is so important to remember that our decisions do not effect just us. I'm sure Gudmund didn't think in 1866 "oh i better stay active in the church so my great-great-great-great granddaughter can serve a mission" but it does not mean his choice didn't effect me. It changed my life as much as it did his.

I pray for those who have made the mistake to take offence, and i pray that i will never make that same mistake. 

I don't know what my new address is going to be, so stay tuned, i will have to let you know next week! I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead of me. I know this will be a time of great growth and i am very excited! I love you all, and thank you for the love and support you all give me! Miss you lots, sorry if the last part seems a bit intense but it is something that i am very passionate about! I know this gospel is true and i hate to see people miss out on the joy that comes from this truth due to the decisions of others. 

Love ya'll

Sister Lambert :)