June 25 – Almost Auntie Sister Godfrey

Bonjour!!!!  I have been dying to know if I am an Aunt yet…but next week haha.  However, let me know ASAP when she is born and then send me thousands of pictures!!!!!  I am sooooooo excited!

This week has been awesome!  Sorry we were unable to email yesterday.  Our P-day was moved to today because there was a Quebec holiday.  But don’t worry Mom, I am doing great.  (Also, next week for Canada Day they might change our P-day again but I’m not sure.  Either way, don’t worry).

I don’t even know where to start.  It’s been beautiful weather in Montreal.  But the humidity might kill me haha (and apparently it’s not even that humid right now…).  And when it rains – it really does rain.  But that is the least of my worries.  Let me tell you about some of the people we are able to teach.  We met this one man on the metro who at first started preaching to us from the bible and even got off the metro with us to continue.  But when we told him that we believed in the bible and the same things as he was saying I think he didn’t really know what to say.  We set up a time to meet with him and I was kind of worried about it.  But it turned out to be really good.  He even came to church with us!  That was a marvelous miracle and blessing.  And the members were great at fellowshipping (just introducing themselves and being his friend) which was the best thing ever!  He even started introducing himself as Brother E (I’m not sure if I should put their names so I’m just going to have an initial).  It just melted my heart with happiness – he is so humble and meek but yet has great faith and belief in God.  He is from Cameroon and is a lot more comfortable in his french than english (hopefully we don’t have to pass him off).

Hmmm…I’m trying to think of stories but there are so many that I can’t think of any!  I have gotten a lot better at contacting and to just start talking to people!  And we have been able to find a lot of people doing so which has been great (hopefully they don’t fall through).  After the broadcast on Sunday (which was beyond amazing!  There was so much good stuff in it and so inspiring.  I have a lot to work on but Sister Varela and I are SO excited!!!) we just talked to everyone on our way home.  With this one lady we started talking with she didn’t even seem that interested but we just testified to her and asked her about her belief in God.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and because of our boldness and love for her we were able to reach out to her.  Missionary work requires a lot of boldness and courage but it needs to be matched with even more love for the person and for God and also meekness.  Really, it’s just the spirit that you have to rely on and it’s been wonderful learning how to become a better servant of God.

There are so many people from all over the world!  My french (well, like the 5 sentences I know ha) is getting better and we are even able to use Spanish sometimes.  Nathan was right – I really have already met people from SO many different places.  Just in the past week we have had investigators from Africa, Iran, China, Norway, Italy and we keep meeting so many others.  I LOVE IT!  My international studies has helped a lot (and yes Nathan and Todd, especially my geography class – maybe even that was inspired haha).

Okay, this is getting so long and I just want to keep going but I don’t want you to start dreading weekly emails.  So I thought this was one of the coolest things ever!  Guess what….I AM SERVING IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE AS NATHAN WAS FOR FOUR TRANSFERS!!!!!  How crazy is that?!?!  Yeah, pretty awesome!  I am super excited about that (haha sorry for that over excited email Nathan ha)!  I just think it’s pretty amazing.  I’ll have to find out who was here when he was (the members).  It’s hard because a lot of people move in and out and most of the people I know so far haven’t been here for that long.  But I can’t wait to find them!

I love you all so much.  Thank you for your examples and testimonies and stories and love and EVERYTHING else!  I love being a missionary and that I can share how the gospel has blessed my life.  I am excited for the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ 24/7 with no distractions – what an amazing thing!  Keep on being the great missionaries you are to others.  There is nothing more exciting than sharing what you love with others and seeing how it changes them as they begin to come to that same happiness and joy in their lives – and they didn’t even know they were missing anything!  I know it can be scary sometimes but Heavenly Father is with you and as you testify of the gospel He will not let you fail (look up the song God Speed the Right, Hymn #106 I think – I am beginning to understand the lyrics – God is always there).  I love you!

Love,

Sister Godfrey

P.S. I am glad to hear Matthew and Theresa are safe.  My prayers are with the people of Calgary and all who were affected by this.

*For mailing letters and all it has to be my full name (Sister Andrea Godfrey) and ONLY through normal mail (like no fedex or anything like that – just Canadian mail service).

June 17 – Bienvenue au Quebec!

Hola!  Bonjour!  Hi!  Soooooooooo guess what?!?!  I made it to my mission.  (Pictured with President and Sister Canon, my mission president and wife). Any guesses to where I am right now???  Haha this might be fun to wait to tell you until next week!  But I’m pretty sure Mom might kill me.  SO here we go (drum roll please)……I AM IN MONTREAL!!!!!  Yep.  Good ol Montreal.  Like Montreal, Montreal, Montreal – the real deal.  We live in the city and have a beautiful apartment.  To be honest, a lot of the time I look at the city and hear all the French and wonder to myself…?Am I really in Canada?? haha.  But yes, (or no as probably a real Quebecois would say) I’m in Quebec.  I’m in an English ward right now haha.  A bit dissappointed about not learning French (or putting my Spanish to use).  But that’s okay.  This is where Heavenly Father wants me to be and I am more than okay with that.  Although, don’t get me wrong EVERYONE speaks French.  We try to contact in English because that’s the people we will teach (otherwise we would have to pass them off to other missionaries) but they often only speak French (the other day we ended up in a completely French populated place and I didn’t know anything) or are limited in their English.  But most people are bilingual and know both, so that’s good.  I have been so confused as to what language I should be learning right now (my companion knows a bit of Spanish).  But I think we have decided to speak and try to learn French for right now.  I’m glad we are only trying to learn one otherwise it would be sooooo confusing.

My companion is awesome!  Her name is Sister Varela and is from Utah.  She is a great example to me and has already taught me a lot – and mostly in example which is wonderful.  I know that she will be a great help to me.  Alright….some stories!  I think it was the first day we got here.  We went to this one appointment which was very interesting haha but for the most part we were wondering if it had even been worth our time.  On the way back home we were contacting (where we approach others about what we believe) on the bus to this one lady.  The lady wasn’t very interested but after she left this one man behind her was like ?Excuse me.  Sorry I couldn’t help but listen.  I have been looking for something in my life….?  It was really cool and even a surprise!  We started talking to him and he told us he had been looking for something, religion, in his life and how he never felt something fully before.  We started talking with him and it was really cool!

Another thing that happened to me yesterday was that we were on the bus contacting people.  (We take the metro and bus everywhere and walk everywhere else).  A lot of the time people kind of stare at us, especially our name tags (which I don’t blame them).  But sometimes I feel a bit awkward.  Yesterday on the bus people were just looking at me and I felt awkward.  But then I thought about all the blessings that I have received because of this Gospel of Jesus Christ!  It has brought me so much joy and happiness – behind the explanation of words.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world and that our Heavenly Father is so mindful of us and loves us so much.  I know that Heavenly Father wants to help us and communicate with us and that is through prayer.  I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and know that it is the true church of Jesus Christ.  And that is why I am here.  Because of the blessings I have received I want others to feel the same joy, happiness and strength it has brought into my life.  When I thought of that I was filled with joy.  I want to share this joy with everyone!  It is amazing!

Wow.  I keep talking a lot don’t I.  I love Montreal so far!  There are people from EVERYWHERE in the world – seriously EVERYWHERE.  It’s so cool.  And the streets look like Europe – they really do.  Our street where we live is beautiful – the green trees are all along the sidewalk.  There are the brick buildings, spiral staircases and front porches.  You would love it!  I am so excited to be serving here and cannot wait to tell you more about it.

(My first Quebecois poutine!)
Thank you so much for all your love and support.  I especially want to thank you for your example to me.  Seriously, you have all helped me become who I am today and get here.  I love you all so much!  Have an amazing week.

Love,

Sister Godfrey

June 7 – Montreal bound!

Sunday temple walk with MTC Zone.

Alrighty… guess what?!?! I’M GOING TO MONTREAL! I will be there on Tuesday and am SO so soooooooo excited! Nervous for sure but my excitement to get to work in Quebec or wherever I am assigned definitely beats my fear! I even met a lot of the people (there are 10 in our Montreal traveling group) going to my Mission. They seem like very hardworking, excited and fun missionaries. Montreal better watch out! This week (well I can’t even remember what happened haha) has been great! I have really felt the tender mercies of the Lord and how mindful He is of His children. Last night as a class we had the opportunity to team teach (a companionship at a time- Oh Dad, to finally answer your question, No the investigators are usually our teachers. For the first one we don’t know that they will be our teacher. They play the role of an investigator they had on their mission. At first I was like “this is silly cause it’s not real” but as you really begin to put yourself in a missionary mindset it becomes so real. The “investigator” may not be real but the people and their stories are. It’s really cool. And I’m really glad they are real (well kind of). It would be cool but my poor Spanish (especially in the beginning) would probably not help them haha. But I guess it wouldn’t matter cause it’s the spirit that matters most) our first investigator. It was amazing to see how far we have all come in our language, testimonies and as missionaries. I loved it so much! My companionship got to teach the Great Apostasy and the Restoration (the restoration is one of my favourite things to teach-it’s so powerful). The Spirit was so strong in the lesson and as we taught. I definitely feel led by the Lord when I teach. (side note of something I thought was funny. The Elders before us used this one scripture and I didn’t understand (understanding spanish is a difficulty for me) that they apparently used the scripture that I had planned and because I didn’t catch on I used it again! Haha. But it was still good because it all worked well together)  When we got to the story of Joseph Smith, reciting the first vision (my companion did it this time) was so powerful! I truly know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ. How remarkable is that! Once again, the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored upon the earth! And now because of that as members of His church we can receive the blessings and joy that comes from living the path that God has told us to do.

 

I’m sure you have all found out by now about the Church announcement of June 23rd! If you don’t, get on it because seriously GET READY! It’s going to be awesome! There is so much talk about it lately. They are getting over a thousand missionaries to sing in the choir (so sad that I will not be able to participate in that- oh well) and I’m pretty sure all of the missionaries will be at the centre for the annoucement. All of the apostles and the Prophet and his counsellors will be there. It’s going to be big! Apparently there’s been rumour that it is going to be the biggest annoucement about missionary work in this dispensation- crazy I know! I am SUPER excited for it! I just want to know right now what it is haha! But please, please, PLEASE, be there for the annoucement (well the broadcast). Dad, get all the young men there. I know that whatever it is is very important. God is hastening His work. Haha wouldn’t that be funny if it wasn’t even that big now that I’ve said all this.

 

Yesterday we had in-field training here and I learnt a lot. A HUGE part of missionary work is help from the members. Our work as missionaries to really grow depends SO much on members. We need their help. I really wish I was a better member missionary before my mission. I am grateful that I was a good example and that is a big part but I challenge you to become better member missionaries. Make a goal as a family or individually to invite a friend to an activity or something and then give yourself a set date to have it done by. Tell the missionaries- they WILL help you and encourage you and even PRAY for you! I am so glad you are such great examples to others as well as me. I appreciate it and look up to you. I know that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ I am so happy and that I can find peace and joy throughout the difficult times of life. There are so many blessings that come from being a member of His church and it is such an amazing opportunity to share that joy with others! Missionary work is the BEST!

 

Thanks for all your emails and letters. I really appreciate and LOVE hearing from you! I wish I had time to respond individually but I don’t so once again here’s your personal hi: HOLA! I love you! Have a great week and keep your faith in God strong!

 

Love,

Hermana Godfrey

 

Hermana Fors – my awesome teacher and “Isabel” one of my investigators as well.

 

Feeling like pilots with these headsets that we use for lessons on the computer.

May 31, 2013 – tengo su espalda

Okay. SO I have like no time now haha. But this week has been pretty wonderful.  I can’t believe that I’ve been here for over a month! I only have about a week and just a few days until MONTREAL!!!!! I am so excited to go. But I am learning everything I can while I am here. The closer the time gets to leaving the more I realize I’ve got so much to learn. Thankfully, they don’t expect you to know everything by the time you leave.  Last friday we (mi hermanas y yo) went and did sealings (as daughters) at the temple. It was one of the coolest things! The Spirit was SO strong. I have never done it before and I was so amazed at the blessings that are given to families who are faithful in the gospel. It makes me so happy and greatful to my family. My testimony that families can be together forever has definitely been strengthened. I know that if we live worthy and are obedient we can live with our families forever in happiness and glory. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Redentor. Yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero y es les palabras de Dios. Yo se que Dios es nosotros Padre Celestial y muy amoroso. Yo se que la iglesia de Jesuscristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es verdadero por que yo se que con el Evangelio de Jesuscristo soy muy feliz y gozo. En el nombre de Jesuscristo Amen.

 

I LOVE YOU!!! Have a great week and a wonderful day!

 

Love,

Hermana Godfrey

 

P.S. If ya didn’t catch on, that was a part of my testimony in Spanish!