Halloween in Apt 104

Our apartment looks super spooky for Halloween! But not too spooky, we still need the spirit to be with us ;) But I am getting excited for Halloween!! :) Institute is holding a YSA Halloween dance and all the YSA are getting excited about their costumes! :) And tonight for family home evening we are carving pumpkins! So Sister Droge and I are going out with a member today to pick them! :) That is my favorite part,.. picking pumpkins! There won’t be much we do on Halloween this year though. Missionaries need to be in their apartments by 6pm. Smart eh? But it will be fun. We will open our windows and watch the trick or treaters go by while we do our weekly planning!

So we have this awesome investigator! He is from India. He is so smart! Like, he knows 4 languages! He has been learning about the gospel and loves it! He wants to be baptized, but his family doesn’t want him to. They belong to a different religion and are against him joining another. It is hard :( But it has been so fun teaching him. It is so cool seeing him progress. When we first met him he wasn’t sure what he believed, but he told us he believes in Jesus Christ and I asked him how, and he said by reading the Book of Mormon. How amazing is that?!

Yesterday we taught the word of wisdom to one our investigators. He was hesitant about it. But then our member friends that was with us threw down on him! It was so cool, because it was what he needed. She gave him facts and told him that it’s dumb to take those things into our bodies. Members are the best because that is sometimes exactly what our investigators need! So today at lunch, we are going to go over and chuck everything he agreed was not good for him… in the garbage for God! It’s going to be awesome! :)

I love you all so very much!! Keep being missionaries. All of you!

- Sister Gillins 

There is a missionary couple from Utah
 that live in our apartment building.
 It's like I'm home everytime I see their car! 

Doan's Baptism! 

Baptism Selfie!! 

SPOOKY AND FUN HALLOWEEN

Doan was Baptized!

This week was a fun and great week! Our dear friend Doan was baptized :)

Sister Droge met him a few weeks ago while we were contacting out on the street. He was so prepared! He ate up everything. He truly does love this gospel and understand it so well. After meeting him the first time and inviting him to read, he went home and read all of 1 Nephi! Every lesson we had with him he came ready to learn. He wanted to understand this gospel and he is applying it into his life. During the teaching processes we had our recent convert Joe come with us to teach. It is amazing to see someone who is so new to the gospel being able to teach it. It was a blessing to have Joe along with us because he was able to explain the gospel to Doan in the way Doan needed it explained. Joe is also still making changes! He has now started wearing a white shirt and tie to church and took out his earrings! And no one even asked him to! :) The gospel changes our nature. It changes us for the better :)

We had a lot of appointments fall through this week. Like a lot! But that just made us really good at drop by lessons and lessons on the street. We are becoming pro at it. I love the short lessons we have. It helps me cut the fat and get straight to the meat! The gospel is very simple, but so powerful! Even if you do only see someone for 3 minutes you can help them feel the spirit. That is something President Clayton and I have talked about. That we need to help people feel the spirit. Go out and be happy and allow people to feel the spirit. It can be frustrating when people don’t care or want to understand, but if you are yourself and you have the spirit with you, the least you can do is allow that person to feel the spirit.

We also had a Turkey Bowl for Canadian Thanksgiving! It was zone against zone! Our zone is full of foreigners.. so none of them know how to play American football. It was probably the cutest thing I have ever seen. They just were running around and did as they were told. Good thing missionaries don’t keep score.. :) I bet we would have won anyways ;)

This week was also Sister Droges birthday! Happy birthday to her! We were everywhere on her birthday! We went to Mississauga for an appointment (which bombed) but it was fun! It is like the future there! It is so nice and rich.. not what I am used to. I like the ghetto. But that is what I think I like a lot about where I serve. I get to be in so many different places and be with so many different people. It’s so amazing being able to see how each person has been prepared to hear and learn about the gospel.

OH!! And this past week we had a zone challenge. It was to see which district could commit the most people to church. Our district blew it out of the water! Mainly on Elder Akre and Elder Ellis's part. They worked hard and allowed our district to dominate! This week we are focusing on getting member presents. I have a feeling we will win this one too ;)

Love you all. Keep up the great work!

-Sister Gillins 

Sweet and Wonderful DeDios family.
They have us over all the time for dinner.
Thanksgiving was amazing!

CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving before Halloween?! Ya, its weird I know! :) But it was still such a wonderful day!

But mostly because I got to talk to people all day!! We actually had exchanges yesterday so Sister Stoddard came to the Churchville YSA area and we had a ball!! We only had one appointment set up, so the rest of the day was free for us to go street contacting!! And we went on a road trip for that one… stopping at every place to share the good news! ;) We first went to the Humber North Campus and talked with people there. We actually met two solid girls who love the Lord! We taught them about the Restoration and they are excited to learn more! Then we went to York University and contacted around there and little and then decided to walk over to Finch and Sential and we met the best person ever! It was this man from China! He was so excited about everything and he even said his first prayer with us! :) The spirit that comes when someone says their first prayer, even if it is on a busy street corner,… is pretty amazing.

Now Thanksgiving dinner!! :) Yummy!! We have this wonderful couple in the branch presidency who had us over for dinner. They treat us too well!! It was like the Thanksgiving dinner we have at home. We had mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and lots and lots of turkey! I was so stuffed! Probably gained like 15 pounds, but that’s okay! We all do on missions ;) Well at least Sister Gillins does.

Oh! And we are finally getting our gross moldy ceiling fixed! yay!!! No more gross showers :) haha it was actually all cut open this week and stuff kept falling out. So Sister Droge and I decided to go to the chapel for work outs and just take a shower there! :) It was actually not as bad as I thought! It worked out swimmingly. :)

For PDAY…. We are getting ready to play a Turkey Bowl. Our Zone is getting together. I am playing center because I think I am big and can dominate(; haha…Jokester. Actually I want to play that position because the only thing I can catch is the common cold. I won’t be able to catch the football.

Love you all!!

Sister Gillins 

ZONE TURKEY BOWL

SISTER G- "HUTTING THE BALL"
SISTERS DOMINATE

The gross moldy bubble!! 

Awkward zone pictures are the best! :) 

We love the Hermanas!! :)
(spanish speaking Sisters) 

LIFE SAVER !!

Sister Droge saved my life this week! I was taking my vitamins in the morning as we started personal study and one just wouldn’t go down!! The little booger was just chillin' in my throat like it was no bodies business! I kept trying to cough it up but it wouldn’t go! Luckily I was still breathing. So Sister Droge told me to get up and jump, so I started to jump around our apartment. Nothing. That booger was hanging on for dear life! Sister Droge started to hit my back. Nothing. It was probably the worst feeling in the world. I sat there for about a minute in the bathroom hacking up a storm!! Finally Sister Droge came to the bathroom with some gross yellow water, (which I found out was my apple juice that she mixed with water) and I drank it and was fine. This whole experience was very traumatic and I never want it to happen again.

We got stuck in traffic. Again! Just like we do every day of our lives. But this week we took videos!! too bad none of you can see them.. You'll just have to wait 11 months and then you can see how funny Sister Droge and I are! :) But I did take some pictures.. but it doesn’t even capture how horrid it is to hit traffic at 3 in the afternoon.. like how does that even happen? I don’t know.

For PDAY….We get to put up Halloween Decorations today. Because my mom is awesome! She sent the whole District some Halloween Candy and decorations. Then I get to clean, get some icecream and go WATCH sports. The Elders are nice and tell me to play…but, I’m not good and I don’t enjoy being smashed with a ball multiple times… The Elders and some Sisters take their sports serious…haha. I smashed my finger just trying to put up the volleyball net last week. I think I will just catch up on writing some letters….

Conference was the best!! We are so privileged to hear from a living prophet and his apostles every 6 months! I think the week of conference is the best. I love telling people that they could hear the prophet on a live broadcast! There reactions are the best! Most people think I'm crazy but some people think that is really cool!! And it is really cool!! The things they say to us really do apply to our every day lives! They are NOT just old men with beards and robes, but smart educated men led by the Lord to help us get through every day life!! I learned a lot from conference, but I think the best thing was the overwhelming feeling of my Saviors love as I watched. I know that my Savior loves me and all of His children. It is amazing that I have the opportunity to teach that each day. Missionary work is the best! Good thing every member is a missionary so I can do this for the rest of my life!! :)

Oh ya!! We survived transfers!! Sister Droge and I are staying is Churchville YSA! The anxiety that goes into transfer calls is almost too much to bear! So we watched, "How rare a possession" to keep our mind off of things. :) ! This place is the bomb!!

Love,

Sister Gillins 

I love my Companion! She is so Cute!

The Anxiety of "WAITING"
for transfer news!!

Watching "How rare a possession"
 to keep our mind off of things. :) 

I can't take this Toronto traffic anymore!!
IT IS HORROR TO ME!!

17 min car rides turn into
45 min car rides in the blink of an eye! 

I love to see the TEMPLE !!

This week was AMAZING! Pretty much like every week while you are on a mission :)

This week we were able to meet some pretty amazing people! And those amazing people came to church!! :) And those amazing people also read in the Book of Mormon! More than we asked them to read. I know, I know what you all are thinking, MISSION MIRACLE! But really. Young Single Adults are the bomb! They are so prepared and they are so ready to learn. They really do take everything in. The things they are able to understand are amazing and the questions they do have really make me think. So as I study and prepare for our lessons I am learning so much more than I ever have! I love this area and these people so much!

This week we also got to go to the TEMPLE! Woohoo!!

Earlier this week Sister Droge and I actually packed a lunch and ate lunch on the temple grounds. The spirit you feel by just standing on the ground around the temple is amazing. On Saturday morning we actually got to go inside and do a temple session. It is something I needed and I am so grateful that I was able to attend. Because when you haven’t been for awhile you tend to forget the spirit that is felt there. It is so much stronger and sweeter there than anywhere else. And that is why we have been asked to attend as regularly as possible. To never let the temple escape our view.

Later that night at the General Women’s Broadcast they talked a lot about temples! What a great way to finish the day! :) But the temples are the House of God. It is where we are able to go and gain further truth and knowledge. Our mission president has asked us to try to get our recent converts to the temple as soon as possible. At least 2-3 months after they are baptized. I know how important this is. The temple is such a sacred place and I want everyone to feel the way I have felt by attending the temple.

Oh ya!! as a side note, last week I smashed my finger! It went blue instantly!! Pretty sweet eh!? Elder Barrett (senior missionary) told me to put a whole in it and let the blood drain out. All I could think about is when Grandpa Glover smashed his fingure at Bear Lake and did the same thing.. Maybe Ill try it tonight and see if the pressure lets up.

Love,

Sister Gillins

 Hi we are missionaries and we
 'mustache' you a question!

I think I may get married in this temple. 

I think its a nice shade of blue. 

Testimony

This week we had the opportunity to have Elder Cardon of the Seventy come and speak with us. I love being able to just sit and be taught. I love teaching.. but being taught is the best thing in the world! Especially from a General Authority. He helped us understand our role as missionaries and how we are called and the organization of the church. I am ever so grateful for how organized our church is!! :) He also went over how important it is to never mention baptism without confirmation. The two are so important together. That without receiving the Holy Ghost baptism is not complete. I am so grateful that he mentioned that because I think that is something I am lacking and need to make clear as I teach.

I have had the opportunity to hear some amazing testimonies this week as well. Mainly from Recent-Converts. Seeing the gospel change their life has been such a blessing in my life! It reminds me that I need to allow the gospel to change my life every day. One of the Recent-Converts in my area is named Aditya and he said something last night that hit me. We live in a pretty big city and there are tall buildings all around. He said he looks up and see's what man has built and looks at it like we have to achieve those same heights,..  but when we go out in nature and look at what God has made and just look at the big blue sky, it shows us that it is just us and God and that we can achieve all things.

 I love how much nature can bring us closer to our Father above. Look at the many amazing things around you. They are all Gods creations. We are Gods creation. God created us in His own image. He has also created a plan for us. A perfect plan that allows you and I to return back to His presence. It is so simple, but so marvelous. He has given us a way to know His plan and it is through a living prophet. Each prophet tells us how we can achieve eternal glory. I am so honored that I am able to go out and proclaim this message each day. I know that when I go home I won’t stop sharing it either. This message is too sweet not to share.

I love my Father above; I am so grateful that He sent me to the Churchville YSA area to be able to learn more about Him through His children.

I love each and everyone of you.

Love,

Sister Gillins

Thank you Jimmy for the bracelet! I love it and I love supporting the Canadian colors!

My cousin Jimmy made me a Colors of Canada bracelet!
I love It!

Cherry's are delicious and cute!

To start off this week… we played volleyball for Family Home Evening! And guess who got hit the face with the ball? Me! Its okay though, it happens all the time when your name is Sister Gillins.. :) Anyways, that was a blast, mostly because we played in our skirts! And we still dominated! :D

Most of our teaching appointments this week worked out like this….. people have too many questions and sisters that don’t have enough time to answer! But they were still wonderful. Young people do have a lot of questions and they are good questions. But it is so hard to answer all of them when we only have about an hour to teach. But one of my favorite things is just making them hold there questions till the end and see if what we taught them answered their questions. Most of the time it does! It is so wonderful to teach people the restoration or the plan of salvation and seeing how much sense it makes to them when they see the big picture!

We had car problems again this week... not really problems, just that we didn’t have a car for 2 1/2 days.. and if you saw how massive our area is, you would understand how you can’t function without a car. But we improvised! We walked about 5 k's to the nearest University and just oym'ed (open your mouth) or (street contacting) all night. It was really fun! Sister Droge had a goal of talking to at least 30 people this past week by herself and she was able to pass that by talking to 32 just in that night! She is such a hard worker and so brave! I didn’t dare talk to people my 3rd week in the mission!!

This week Cherry Mae was baptized!! She is so adorable!! In one of our lessons with her she told us that she was ready to be baptized and it all went from there!! She has such a love for God and Christ and you can see it in her face and in her actions. Her baptism went well, but there were a couple spiders floating in the font, so I went fishing! No worries she was baptized spider free!! :)

Baptisms are one of my most favorite things about being on a mission. Watching people come closer to God is such an amazing experience. I know that when we follow the example of our Elder Brother and are baptized just like He was by the proper priesthood authority, we will receive more blessings then we can ever imagine. I know our Heavenly Father is looking down and is so pleased with those who enter into the waters of baptism and make that sacred covenant with Him. I know God lives and loves us and being baptized is how we can show Him we love Him too!!

Love,

Sister Gillins

I know my smile is always huge! But I love YSA so much!!
Cherry Mae's Baptism

I'm eating a burrito! Another mission miracle! 

Matchy Matchy!
Our District at Zone Conference