WEEK 60 BURNABY: It's All Worth It 🙂

It sometimes surprises me how much and many much miracles God can give. Just the fact that He loves us enough to let us experience and join in, even just the smallest amount, His work. The Joy that comes from participating in His work is something I will forever be grateful for!

This week was just good. I've been really trying to have eyes to see. Even though the work here in Burnaby hasn't been anything crazy, when I look for God, I see him. See him in every interaction, every teaching, every "divine appointment". It's just soooo good!

Wednesday was just an overall normal day of missionary work. DC, studies, finding, member work. Lesson with Charlie about the priesthood, which was super good. And english class. The everything in one day type day :)

Met a Chinese couple who got to Canada 2 months ago on Thursday. It was a super quick interaction, but they seemed interested. So prayers up that they can pull up to church this week. Keep the 'finding not Chinese people' grind. It's been pretty good! Lots of super God-led interactions with people who need it. So that's epic. Had a lesson with Pan先生. We found out that he doesn't want to come to church because he's had pretty bad experiences with other churches and the people there. He's just worried everyone is gonna hate him, and he has nothing to offer to church or God. It was really sad, and we kinda went back and forth. But it's chill, and hopefully we can help him understand the point of coming to church, and really help him utilize the atonement in his life.

Friday we hit some exchanges. I went with Elder Law and it was a lot of fun. A member (I think) bought us some orange juice. $10 FOR A MEDIUM!!!!! It was outrageous! Holy insane! But bro will be blessed for his sacrifice. Only got in one 'bash', more of a friendly argument which was refreshing. But I'm just so grateful for the gospel, because it is so simple and clear. Her whole side of the story was full of so many loopholes. But it makes me very grateful for the spirit world, and that all these people will have the opportunity to accept the truth . We spent the majority of the day finding, which was fun. Met some super cool people, and got taught an important lesson of 'don't judge people', this message is for everyone.

Saturday was the day of days! We went to the temple with Li!!!!! It's only been a few weeks, but it was so good to see him again! And it was just so amazing! I was so happy and filled with Joy. 

It's worth it.

Every ounce of work.

I was talking to him after and he told me "I have a feeling the dead are peacefully gathering" So amazing!

So blessed!

ALSO..... FRANKS ON DATE!!! He's locked in and is getting baptized on the 7th!!!

After the temple, we ran back to the church, and taught the post English Christianity 101 class. It was good. The Hunt's also randomly showed up. They were the senior couple here for a long time, when I was here. But recently they've been banished to the far north. So it was good to see them again. Got Vegas Doughnuts (shoutout elder MaiDongLao) Then met up with the ZLs and blitzed the mall food court. We all just split up and talked with everyone, and surprisingly didn't get kicked out .

Sunday was super good. The talks were so incredible. We have a new bishop since I last served here, and he's the goat. He's in his low 30s and served his mission here in BC like 10 years ago. He and his wife (who's a convert) gave talks and they were so good. Played 'listener therapist' for some old friends here, and lowkey made me realize that everyone is going through struggles, and how important the gospel in our lives is. And how much the members look up to missionaries as a beacon of light. We really can bring the spirit into people's life! Attended a baptism for the English elder's friend which was fire! Then went to the library for some social media work, but just ended up talking to this guy who used to go to our church, but hasn't been, and we were able to invite him again, and hopefully he can come. 

Shoutout frozen lasagnas .

Monday was good! Weekly planning. Family Home Evening. Ohh and.. I forgot to mention. HFQ came to visit. Huang Qing Fa my king!!! He took us and the sisters out to hot pot. And It just made me so happy. Every time I see him I'm just filled with Joy!

Today was fire, zone p-day with Kahoot, chair soccer, and spike ball.

Ok fine

晚安

The past couple of days I've been studying a lot about the fall of Adam and Eve, and going deep into the doctrine. And it's actually so cool. I've got so many thoughts about it now, and have realized how important it was to God's PoS. 

But what I've really come to know is the importance of trials. The importance of mistakes. The importance of heartaches. The importance of everything "negative" in life.

Adam - "Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God."

Eve - "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."

Sometimes we just want everything to be good and perfect. But growth comes from making mistakes. Joy comes from sorrow and redemption. If we want to become like God, we have to sin, we have to go through trials, we have to have challenges, and hard times. Because that's how we can see the opposite. That's how we can choose to utilize the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our life. Because agency is a gift. And the only way we can choose to follow Jesus Christ, is if there is pain, sorrow, and sickness. 

So embrace the suck, and turn to God!

Glory to God

The King of Happy  

Exchange core

Special shoutout

WEEK 59 BURNABY: Justice for Elder Pedersen ✊

Dang 8 day week...Ya really didn't feel like anything different. So it's chill. 

But great week though :)

Last Tuesday was the weekly planning grind, which was kinda weird. Def not normal, but hey we ball. After weekly planning, we did our weekly planning contacts at McDonalds. And on the way back, Elder Pedersen got pooped on. Rip. Justice for bro, he don't deserve it . Finished the night with a lesson with Charlie. Brotha is so close, it's like Li all over again. Except this time it's his eye, not legal stuff. He might have to get surgery soon, and his doctor won't let him do it. But I have faith!

Wednesday was good! Had DC in the morning, and it's a pretty fun district. So it'll be a good transfer. Had a lesson with our friend Pan 先生 all the way in Vancouver, so that was fun. Cool to go back there almost after a year as well. Pray that bro can come to church, he's actually super cool and is super willing to learn and change. Had a chill English class in the evening.

Thursday was ZC which was a party. Started with a pancake breakfast. Had baller trainings, and just continuing on that lock-in grind. This work really is all about forgetting yourself and going to work. Always thinking about others and serving them. Got pizza with our new member and had a lesson with him. He def needs the support, so it's cool to help him. Then we went and picked up more food from a member. This ward is actually legendary! Very missionary minded too, which is so cool!

Every Friday we do our language study with one of our members, and he's starting to teach me Cantonese, so that's been fun! Also had ping pong which was blessed. Hit the streets in metrotown, and dang bro, still trying to adjust to this area. Super different vibe, with a whole lot less Chinese people but we big chillin. Finished the night with a comp study at Burnaby Mountain Park during the sunset, it was quite beautiful!! And a lesson with Pan先生 rd. 2

Had a baller English class on Saturday, with a baller spiritual thought afterward. Hopefully we can start getting some of these friends to church and meeting with us. It'd be pretty cool. Had a lesson with a new friend Tony, and bros a chilla and a really fun dude. He's actually pretty elect and super receptive too. So that's pretty neat.

Had an amazing 安息日. The sacrament was amazing, and it was the primary program which is always just the best. Such an amazing spirit! Did some service, and social media work. Then had our gospel principles and mission zoom meetings/classes to end.

Monday we back to the weekly planning grind. We also had a lesson/member lunch with this part member family. The wife is a member and she is soooo amazing. Her husband isn't, and the kid is like 4. But we went over and shared a message with them, and it was super cool. Because the husband has a very interesting viewpoint. He's had some really big and cool spiritual experiences, but for some reason is not willing to accept it. And sometimes is pretty against it. But during the lesson it was super spirit filled, and TingTing (the wife) during the middle of it points at him and goes "aaahaa, you have tears in your eyes! " and Li goes "well, no ones every really explained it like that". So it was cool to see that the spirit is still working with him, because having that family be sealed in the temple would be just the coolest thing ever!!! Finished the night with family home evening, and that was a lot of fun!

For P-day today, we had the temple in the morning. Blessed. Ate breaky with the elders afterwards. Blessed, and delicious! Then hung out with a member! Tonight, we did our weekly planning contacts, and had a lesson. Overall, goated day!

It's been super good. Life is still just as amazing as always!

God is so Good!

In the talk "I am a Child of God" by Elder Fale -

"As of the date of this picture, what had you done to earn our love?” They lowered their eyes and said, “Nothing.” I asked them to look up and said, “You are right. You did nothing to earn our love. By that same token, there is nothing you can ever do that will unearn or remove that love from you. You did not earn it; you cannot lose it. It is yours forever.”

I love this so much! I'm not a parent yet, but I'm sure all ya'll can completely agree. I def see it in the newest parents of the family, Spencer and Brinlee.

And that's how our Heavenly Father's love is. Something so unimaginable. We can't even comprehend the love he has for each of us. And we did absolutely nothing to earn it . But because of that, we can't do ANYTHING to lose it. God's love isn't conditional, it is a statement of fact. It just is. It is quite literally the most important and frequently taught principle we teach as missionaries: God is our LOVING Heavenly Father. That's His greatest trait...His infinite love for each of his children. And it is this all powerful, omnipotent, king love...the love of a Father for each of His children. With His whole intent in bringing us home.

His love is Truth. It's not earned, it can't be unearned. Just live in it. He's always waiting, arms outstretched, just hoping we come into His loving embrace .

Shoutout Wells!

The post temple grub hits different

The photo guy  

Beautiful BC fr

WEEK 58 BURNABY: Gobble Gobble 🦃

How cool is that?

I get to celebrate one of the greatest holidays before most everyone else!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Besides the absolutely delicious thanksgiving meal we just ate, this week was super good! It's good to be back here in Burnaby, there's a lot of work to be done.

Wednesday was the final day. It was good, a little sad to be leaving Richmond though. Blessed area, blessed branch, blessed companion, and blessed district. Truly one of the greatest 7+ months of my life, and I'm excited for the next adventure out here in the Beautiful BC! I've learned and grown so much. It's so hype!

Today we did a lot of transfer help stuff. We were driving most of the day, taking people places. We got to bring the new missionaries in which was really fun. Kinda crazy that it's been a little over a year since I did that. The new Chinese elders are actually so dope, and their Chinese are both cracked. So they finna be so good out here. I got to have a lesson with Li one final time, and we are getting him ready to go to the temple. It was also super cool, we scheduled a chapel tour at the same time so that Li could join the lesson with our new friend Louis. And bro was a testifying fool. He shared so much, and it was so cool! Did lots of ferry pickups the rest of the day.

Thursday was transfer day. Got to see a lot of the mission goats, then hopped in the car with Elder Pedersen and drove to Burnaby. It's gonna be a hype transfer! Did studies and grinded the streets. It's definitely a little different than Richmond. Richmond it's all Chinese people, and you can start every conversation in Chinese. Here it's a lot of not Asians, and a lot of Asians who don't speak Chinese. So it's def an adjustment. But we ball. We finding a lot of not Chinese people which is funny, kinda annoying (not really), but hey it's one work . We have gotten a lot of missionary, member, and online referrals for Chinese people, so it's been super blessed!

Later that night we had a lesson with our friend Charlie. And it's super cool because me and elder Tai were the first missionaries to have a lesson with him when he moved to Vancouver a year ago. Big boomerang type beat! He's grown so much, and we're hoping to get him baptized very soon! 

Friday morning we went to this community center and I saw a lot of familiar faces. One guy even remembered my name. I thought he just looked at my name tag, but I actually forgot to wear it that morning..... But talked to him and it was cool. It's actually so crazy that a year has passed, no joke, does not feel like it. We did a language study with one of the goat members, Tony. He's gonna start teaching me Cantonese, so that'll be nice, cus lowkey everyone here is from Hong Kong. FRIDAY PING PONG is BACK!!!!! I'm locking back in! Sooo good! Grinded some finding too.

Saturday was good! We taught English class which was pretty fun. A guy I found last year still goes, so that's fun! He's super cool. We went finding at a park, and met this group of young adults, who apparently new Anne. Kinda weird, but kinda funny. That night we had our ward Thanksgiving potluck. It was super good, met some new people. Saw a lot of old people. It was really fun!

Sunday was so good! A member brought a new friend, and he was super cool! Before church we met with TiTi, who's an 11-year-old kid, and bro is the most stacked 11-year-old ever. Bro was literally correcting my poor English spelling. He literally takes public transit all by himself. He's actually so incredibly independent. He'll even go camping by himself. Like holy, he's crazy. Crazy cool. It was fun, I haven't been able to teach young kids much my mission, so I'm excited for this opportunity! After church we were able to talk with lots of members, and I'm excited for the member work grind! We did finding the rest of the day, again found no Chinese people, but lots of not Chinese people haha. Finna have to learn the ropes here.

Then today, cheeky Monday P-day. But Happy Thanksgiving. Be grateful! It's a good lifestyle. Today was chill, got faded up, played some spike ball, and had an amazing Thanksgiving member meal. With turkey. So blessed!

But anyways fire week.

(Check out "povwithtanner", I'm famous now )

Love ya'll!

There are three parts of this talk I wanna share by Elder Bednar, "Pray Always".

"Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with all the energy of our hearts.

The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests.

We learned that our gratefulness for the plan of happiness and for the Savior’s mission of salvation provided needed reassurance and strengthened our confidence that all would be well with our dear friends. We also received insights concerning the things about which we should pray and appropriately ask in faith."

This talk is absolutely incredible. And I just want to add my testimony, gratitude prayers are amazing! We have so much to be grateful for, and to rejoice in. WE ARE SAVED! Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. God Loves us!

Being grateful is so important, and something I've learned so much while I've been out here. We truly are all blessed. Even in the hard times of life. There are still so many incredible things to be grateful for. I can promise in that the more time we spend in gratitude, and giving our thanks to God, the happier we will be. We will find more joy. And we will come closer to out Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ!

Be Grateful!!! Life is Good!

WEEK 57 RICHMOND: My Work Here is Finished 🫡

Dang, what an absolutely blessed week!

Li was baptized!!!!! And it was just such an amazing experience, for everyone! The member support was amazing, because bro has pretty much lowkey been a member the past many months. He was just so happy. I was so happy, the baptism was perfect! And life is just good.

It was really neat, I had the privilege of being the one who got to baptize him, and it was such a neat experience. I pulled him out of the water and he just has the biggest smile on his face, and says, "I feel like I want to cry". Talking to him after, he was telling me how he's never felt like there was a connection between him and his parents, but after being baptized, it was like he was connected to his Father. And it's so true. Covenants literally bind us to our Heavenly Father, and helping us grow closer to Him.

This work is so important and so worth it! :)

-

We also got transfer news today, and I'm sadly leaving Richmond...7 months later. It's been a pleasure. And a grind. I've learned a lot, and really call this branch my family. It's truly been so amazing, and hopefully will come back before all this is over. But I'll be going to Burnaby, where I was first birthed out here in the Canada Vancouver mission. So I'm excited! When we got transfer news, I was follow-up training and getting a new trainee. So we were gonna be living the trio life. But come to find out, the trainee got super sick, and had to go home. So I will only be with one comp, but it'll be epic!

-

Some highlights from the week:

Last Tuesday night we were able to go to the temple with the MLC, and it was so good. It's been a long time since I've done a late night temple trip...they lowkey hit different.

Wednesday was MLC, and it was such a spiritually uplifting experience. We talked a lot about Joy, which I loved so much. Because this work truly is so joyful! Everyone can find joy through Jesus Christ! No matter whats going on. It's such a joy to serve! Shoutout Cafe Rio! After MLC we had Li's baptismal interview which went good. Obviously. Grinded some finding at night.

Thursday we were able to meet with Frank and read 3 Nephi 27, which is always a good chapter to read. Had DC, with the goated district. We met with our friend Linda after English class, and she's lowkey just super elect! Taught her restoration and prophets in preparation for conference.  We also gave a chapel tour to another Linda and her husband, and they were super super cool. The husband said he'll have the BoM finished by the next time we see him, idk if that'll happen , but he was excited to read it. And finished off the night with English class.

Friday morning we made the baptismal programs for LI. Met with Adair, and it was super good. Apparently bro absolutely loves the sacrament. Maybe even too much, because when it was conference weekend he didn't feel the need to come to the church and watch with us. But hey, it's chill haha. We got a brand new car, so that's been fun to drive. But holy, Tiwi just brings the fun so down sometimes...

Funny story too- when we were at the library there was this guy who was lowkey wild. He was sitting at a computer down a lil bit from us, and every couple minutes bro would just speak a sentence or two. Like a TikTok sound board kinda thing. They were wild and random sentences too. Sometimes about gangs, sometimes about politics, sometimes about prison and police and firefighters, like just weird stuff . But then out of the blue we hear "they got a bunch of cars down at the Mormon church down on Williams Rd"   ...... me and Elder Wengert instantly stare at each other. It was really funny, super weird, and only a little worrying. We told our vehicle coordinator, and he thought it was a little funny, and only a little suspicious. But so far, all the cars are good .

Saturday was just a dream come true. And many many prayers answered. Conference was so blessed. I've come to truly love conference and feasting upon the words of Christ! (We also feasted on the words of food in between sessions when a member took us out to an all you can eat Japanese place (members are goated)). It was so good. Linda came and took so many notes. Li came. A member and her mom came, who we used to teach, but they've been super busy. And the messages were just so good. (rip sports betting) ...jk.... But then after all of it, Li finally got baptized, like I said earlier, it was perfect! After we played pickleball!

Saturday was as some like to say #BLESSED

Sunday was good! Conference rd. 2. We had some more friends come, and they all loved it. Had a lil potluck in between sessions and played some basketball. Also, new scripture teaser??? Kinda crazy. Gave the sacrament to 陈妈妈, probably my last time seeing her . Went finding, and met a cool friend named Louis. We also got to witness a cool miracle. We're filming a video for our Chinese FB page, and we get a call from elder's who are super far up north. They were knocking and found this Vietnamese couple. And Google translate wasn't working. So they called us to see if we knew any members. Sadly I know of no one here, but, shoutout Elder Budd! Hit him up and threw him on the call. Bro gave up his precious p-day time in the service of the Lord. Respect. He was able to help them out, and the up north elders were able to give the husband a priesthood blessing, who's been super sick. It was cool to watch. Thanks E. Budd!

Monday was good, met with Frank in the morning. Went super deep into the restoration, and hopefully bro will start reading the BoM everyday. Scrubbed the apartment down because Sister Vincent was supposed to come check it, but ended up not being able to, it's chill though cus it be lookin' fresh. Ate some Five Guys with 4 guys, then grinded weekly planning.

Today was blessed. We got to go to the tempe again this morning with the zone! We all opened transfer news together, and had the greenies read it to us, which was lowkey super funny cus they got no idea what's going on :) Played some spike ball with a bunch of elders, and ohh boy was it fun. Then finished the night with a lesson with our friend Lotus who is super cool! Also had a new trainer meeting. Then hopped over to the AP's and had a lil party, cus Elder Ottesen is leaving us. Farewell my friend!

And ya. That's it from me.

Blessed Week! Life is good!

Love the talk "A Higher Joy" from April 2024

It's one we talked about at MLC. And President asked us how that relates to what we experienced at the temple the night before.

This quote stuck out to me "Joy is the very purpose of God’s plan for His children. It’s what you were created for—“that [you] might have joy”! You were built for this!"

In the endowment we learn about the plan of salvation. Progressing from kingdom to kingdom. That's what God's plan is, a plan of progression, with the end goal of becoming like Him and receiving the fulness of His Joy. 

If this is a training ground, and having a fullness of Joy is the end goal, then we HAVE to have joy on this earth. If we don't, we won't know how to receive that in the life to come. So God gives us Joy on this earth right now, preparatory for receiving more. Joy is the purpose!

We were created to have Joy in this life, right now. Where ever you are. You are supposed to have Joy. And if you're not feeling it right now, then we can change. Because of Jesus Christ we can have Joy anytime, anywhere. 

That's the whole point!

It's possible!

Jesus Christ is the Joy!

The goat squad

Literally blessed

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