11/16/2015

Hello Everyone! 

   The majority of the week was spent at the temple. We were there mostly all Monday to Friday. It was an amazing experience to be able to help. Very exhausting, but very spiritually uplifting.  

    I felt very luck because I had the opportunity to see many people from past areas and to see how they were doing. It was truly inspiring to see people who traveled 12+ hours on bus, people who crossed the country-all to see the temple. It was really inspiring!

   All in all it was difficult for people to express exactly what they felt in the temple, but my favorite thing that people would say was, " I don't know how to explain it, I just felt it." 

The Sisters in the Montreal Mission

  One of my favorite experiences was while opening the doors to the reception tent, I felt impressed to go talk to this man who was by the comment cards. I walked up to him and asked him about his experience in the temple. He replied, "Interesting."  Not sure if that was a negative or positive things I asked him how so, he explained that while he was a spiritual person and had been baptized that he had never been to the temple before that time. As we talked it was truly amazing to see him commit to put his life in order so that he could attend the temple in the coming months. 

Zone Conference-joined with two other zones for our Mission Tour with Elder Goldon. This is not everyone in the mission but it is a big portion.

 People felt of the peace, calmness and spirituality of the temple. It was truly a testimony builder to me of how important the temple is and how it can truly bless the  lives of those around us just be visiting for the open house. We have seen so many hearts softened by the temple.It was such a blessing to be there:) 

Love you all!

Sister Rawlings

11/9/2015

Well Hello Everyone!

   What a fabulous week it has been. I've been settling very nicely to Kirkland. It really is a great area filled with so many faithful people.    The week started off with a training for the temple. All I can say is, "whoa!" Elder Richards of the 70s came and spoke to us and took us on a private tour through the temple and than sat all of the sisters in the Instruction Room and taught us- right there in the temple! It was an experience I will never forget!

    This past week we only served for three shifts at the temple but it was so powerful. As soon as you drive into the parking lots, you can feel the difference. While talking to a member in the reception tent we both marveled at how even though the temple isn't dedicated, the Spirit is so strong.

    There is definitely a special Spirit that the temple brings. I have heard and seen  many hearts changed all by the Spirit felt in the temple. Not only do we have the privilege to serve in the reception tent but also in the Video Room before the tour inside the temple. Even though we have seen the video countless times, each time I feel the Spirit and catch the Spirit of the temple so strongly.

   We even have seen people who are not members finish their tour and decide to go through again!

We jumped into a pile of leaves!

   One of my favorite personal stories is teaching a woman who had just visited the temple two days before. She loved it. Her testimony really strengthened me she said, ."People kept telling me go to the temple, go to the temple." Then she got really quiet and than said, "I understand why now. The Spirit really testified to her and she told us that she wanted to be married in the temple! Miracles were prophesied when the temple would be dedicated and we just starting to see a sliver of them!

   The week was pretty busy. We also had the opprogunity to go on splits with the sisters from Chicoutimi, which was a fun expereinces and we are now on splits with Ville Marie sisters:)

   We helped arrange a baptism for a 8 year old after Church and than during sacrament meeting we had a huge miracle-we had a woman walk into chuch who we were able to talk to after sacrament, who is moving to the area and is looking for a Church! We were so excited but wait-it doesn't stop there! Than a woman and her son said that he had been invited to play baskeball at the Church and being fairly new in the county were wanting to meet new people and join a Church and they wanted to learn more about our Church! Truly amazing to see the Lord gathering his sheep!

So blessed to be here in the time and place that I am!

Love you all!

Love Sister Rawlings

11/2/2015
Hello my family and friends:)

Last District Meeting

      I received quite a shock this week, we were told on Wednesday that we would be receiving transfer calls that day in preparation for the temple and moving a week early. This is how that call went......(Sister Cumming and I expecting nothing to change) "Sister Cummings you will be staying in Laval..." and we were like "yep"."and you will be receiving Sister blanc (which is her old companion)" So we were really excited for her but than it hit me-wait that means I'm leaving!  "And Sister Rawlings you will be going to Kirkland, and being a sister training leader with Sister Schuruch." 

Marie-Sophie

    Oh how I wish you could see the video Sister Cummings recorded during this calls, my face was complete shock! So I'm  off to Kirkland...today! My new companion is from Belgium and I will be in the same district that I was in when I was in Cornwall. Which is a tender mercy because during stake conference in two weeks I will get to see many of those who are in Cornwall:)   

      We also had the chance last night to visit the temple with Vanessa and Evelyne, who are both recent converts. Can I just say, woah! I have missed the temple. 

      The day started off a bit rough, We woke up early- forgetting it was daylight savings. Than we were late to ward council thinking it was next week, even though we woke up early...lol..   I was feeling a bit stressed with the unexpected packing I needed to finish, the ward members I needed to say goodbye too and the French testimony I was to be giving in a few hours. And we were having scheduling problems with who was coming  for the temple.  Both Sister Cummings and I  were like, "why is all this advisory coming from!" And then we realized that it was because we were going to temple. 

Driving to the temple.

Only in Canada-Canadian Mounty

    It literally is the house of the literal God. Power comes from that house. It is where we can be lifted above the fog and truly remember why were here. It is a source of strength. Even though it isn't dedicated, there is such a special spirit that is felt there. I am overcome with gratitude to be able to serve here in Canada and in the temple!    

 Love you all! 

Soeur Rawlings

We helped decorate-Halloween Maze!

Church Party!

10/26/2015
Bonjour tout le Monde!

 Well it was a crazy busy week! 

 First off, we had a 70 visit our mission. Elder Goldon, it was very special for all the missionaries here! I felt so blessed to not only have one, but two on my mission. My favorite quote that he said was, "you can't do anything about yesterday, don't worry about tomorrow-just focus on today and doing what you need to do. If you take care of today, the tomorrows will take care of themselves..... we just have to work on one day at a time. If you put in the work, the miracles will come!"

After the plunge!

The second thing was,VANESSA GOT BAPTIZED...AND CONFIRMED!It was a beautiful baptism and the Spirit was very strong:)  After some last min adversity, everything went perfect. We have just come to realize that when there is adversity that just means that were doing the right thing. It's a chance to prove to our Heavenly Father that we will choose the right. I know that baptism is such a simple act, but has such eternal rewards. I feel so blessed to have helped Vannessa, who is such a great example of searching for the truth. As she said in her testimony, after 7 years, I asked and now I've found it....

Floral designer in training.

Je t aime! 

Love, Soeur Rawlings

10/20/2015
  
 Hello everyone!

 What a beautiful week it was! My favorite time of the year here in Canada! It snowed a little bit but we will forget about that and just talk about the beautiful trees here. See for yourself!

 It was a pretty normal week. Vanessa is doing really well and is progressing:)

 on one occasion this week we were trying to think of an interactive visual lesson that we could present for a family home evening we were going to and we decided to use D&C 27 about the Armour of God  which says,

 " Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole Armour, that  ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace whichI have sent mine angels to commit unto you; taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which i reveal unto you and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until i come, and ye shall be caught up that where i cam ye shall be also.  Amen."

Our Bishop with the Armour of God

and than also in Ephesians 6:13, " Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."   
***We ended up with a 3-D visual of the Armour of God.​

So I ask you-Do you have on your Armour of God?

Love you all have a great week! 

Love Soeur Rawlings

10/13/2015

Bonjour tout le monde,

Sitting in a restaurant right before being dropped off at the MTC, Ii remember my cousin saying, " Missions are Hard." " Ya, ya, I know" I remember saying, " You will learn a lot" he continued. Little did I know-haha!

 Missions are a personal day by day refinement. Not only do you help others change but if you will let it, a mission will change you- all for the better. Each day, I have come to learn is another day to become more sanctified or the process of becoming holy or more in line with our Heavenly Father and Savoir.  As it says in Hebrews 2:11,"they who are sanctified are all of one".   The more sanctified we become the more in line we are with God's plan which is explained more in  John 17:21,"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us"

And after this week-I feel like I have had so many experiences that have helped me learn,  here is a few....

1) Sometimes we think we are learning something but really God is teaching us so much more- Though I had realized before that I had been called to learn French, I realize now that I'm learning a lot more than just the language of French.  I truly don't feel like I'm learning French just to learn French, though it is one perk . But through French I am being taught many other lessons including patience, compassion, faith, trusting in God to name a few.

2) Remember the big picture-After having to push back our investigator's baptism.  We found ourselves sitting in a car very discouraged, pleading with our Heavenly Father to  help us understand why, and to be able to find patience. After discussing with our bishop we realized that there was much more to the Eternal plan, it wasn't just about a baptism, it was about eternal families.

3)  Faith not Fear- parked in our car we noticed a woman walking towards us. After feeling like we needed to talk to her I started unbuckling my seatbelt without realizing it  but after my companion asked me what I was doing I started talking myself out of it, thinking how weird it would be to talk to her, what would I say, etc.... and as the woman was passing my window, still thinking you need to get out, I smiled and she stopped, pulled out a flower from her coat and gave it to me. We then jumped out to talk to her. We had a great discussion and we ended up giving her a Book of Mormon and getting her information. And to think that we had almost missed this deeply spiritual woman. A learning experience-to always follow the spirit even when it doesn't make sense. 

4) The Atonement is for you-We teach a lot about the Atonement and we constantly are telling people how much it can help them and can apply it to themselves but I've realized that it applies in mine and your life just as much as it applies to those we teach. We stress the importance and the effect that it can have on people but do we truly understand what it can do for us in our lives.  

While talking to man he said, "We live in a world of suffering". Yes there are trials and test- yes they are hard - that is apart of this life but we must remember that the atonement is there to help- yes you, and yes me. That he is there not just for our sins but for our sufferings, weakness and inadequacies  and that through him we don't have to go through it alone, that we can be comforted, refined and made in the end who God wants us to be, all possible because of the Atonement.

Yes, missions can be hard but I wouldn't change what I've learned this week for all the gold in the world.  I love the gospel and I love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Rawlings

10/5/2015
Bonjour tout le monde!

         Hope you all had a fabulous Conference weekend! Such an amazing time of year to listen to God choose servants and than apply their words of wisdom in our lives for the next 6 months:) 

Good bye to the trio!

         We had a very crazy busy week! In all the best ways possible:) We dropped off Sister Meldrum at transfers, after trying to see as many people as possible. The next day we had a lesson with our amie d'Eglise, Vennessa who is just amazing! She is so determined to get baptized this Saturday,, so we have been seeing her almost everyday to teach her all the lessons:) Even though we are teaching the lessons we learn so much from her especially by her desire to follow the gospel. 

       While teaching the Word of Wisdom she put it quite simply by saying,  " I see it like a scale, ( on one hand) Coffee, (on the other hand) Salvation. And I choose Salvation". Wow, right!

Hot chocolate cup, as a visual aid for coffee cup.

       While in the same lesson we ended up pondering the sacrifice of Abraham  and comparing it to her sacrifice of coffee. The spirit was definitely guiding us because we had not planned that.  As we were discussing it, it made me think of what a sacrifice it must of been for Abraham (who had almost been sacrificed himself by his father) to be told of God to sacrifice his only son Issac. Can you imagine the heartache! But true to his trust in God he went to do as the Lord commanded, and because of that trust an angel stopped him and his son was spared.

     Likewise, we too at times, will be asked to sacrifice, time, money, coffee etc. for kingdom of God...and just like Abraham it will be hard but as we trust in God we will be blessed beyond understanding! I can promise that because I have felt and seen that. 

     Remember that "to sacrifice is to give up something we value for the sake of something of greater worth." as it says in True to the Faith. 

     As the Savior taught, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it"   The Pearl of great price is the gospel and while other gems are good what are we willing to sacrifice for the gospel, the greatest and purest happiness we can receive? You tell me...

 Love you all! The gospels true! 

Sister Rawlings