Hermana Rachel Dean's 18 month adventure in Canada, Calgary: October 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

10/26/15 Group Email

Ah this week flew by.. so stressful, but so amazing! On Saturday, Luis was baptized!!! We met him for the first time September 25 and on October 24 he was baptized! It was the most stressful day ever.. but wow it was the most rewarding as well. So many members of the Branch came to support him. The meeting was so good. So incredibly spiritual. He was so excited! After he got baptized, he came up out the water just glowing. He looked right at us and gave us a little thumbs up and smiled. Then he came out and bore his testimony. He turned and basically gave his soul over to Hermana Allphin and I.. I definitely had tears rolling down my cheeks. It was so powerful and wow to see how I've helped him in his life and taught him about the church, and how thankful he is.. it was incredible. A moment I will never forget. He then got the Holy Ghost yesterday in Sacrament. Amazing as well! AND the family he lives with.. long story short: he lives with a Mexican family, the Galvans, who are less active in the English ward, but speak fluent Spanish. THEY CAME TO CHURCH WITH HIM! All of them!! It was amazing!! They haven't been to church in forever. It was so cool! Another family I've grown close with. Then after Sacrament, Hermana Allphin and I had to teach Gospel principles on the spot, so that was fun haha. Gift of tongues is real! Our Investigator Leila, who has a baptism date for this saturday, came to church and stayed ALL three hours!! So that was incredible as well. She was just glowing by the end of the day. The weekend was very stressful, but man when it was all over, I've never felt happier! The work is going so well up here in Canada. Who knew that there really ARE people here in Canada, who speak spanish, that are looking for the gospel! I know this call was given to me from Heavenly Father and I'm exactly where I need to be. Missionary work is what truly has made me happy. Stressful, oh man beyond stressful, but it is so worth it at the end. I just found out I'm getting transferred up to the Ward. So in Calgary, there are two congregations that speak Spanish. The Branch, which is where I've been for the past two and a half months, and then the Ward. I'm heading up to the Ward... definitely a shock when we found that out. Upset, not going to lie, but I know I'm meant to go where the Lord wants me. New adventure in store and I'm ready! Thanks for all your support! I love you all and have a fantastic week!

Con cariño,

Hermana Dean

10/26/15 Pictures

Last week when we went through Stampede Park!

Luis! I love this man with all I have!

The Elders in the Branch that we serve with.
(There are only six missionaries in the Branch, and six in the Ward.)

Luis! After he got the Holy Ghost

My companion Herman Allphin

We carved pumpkins!

Sister Wagstaff

Sister Joseph

Halloween party with the roomies

The family Morales.. their Dad was in the car so he wasn't in the pic, but they really have changed my life. When we met them the very first week of my mission, they were no where nearing going to church. But slowly, they've started coming back. They stayed for all three hours yesterday! They are so much happier with the gospel back in their lives. Hermana Morales is like my second mom. We visit them every week and I feel at home when I'm over at their house. Their granddaughter Sarah, is the cutest little girl I'v ever seen. And Karla is just amazing. Definitely a family I will forever remember

Pretty lake that was off on the side of the freeway.. gotta love Canada

Monday, October 19, 2015

10/19/15 Group Email

This was a really good week! Our two investigators, Leila and Luis BOTH came to church yesterday. It was amazing! Hermana Allphin and I were sitting in the middle of the bench, with our two investigators on either side and our fellowship family on the other side of him.. ah it was so cool. I felt so much love for them in that moment. I could feel how happy they were and it made me so happy too. Luis has his baptism this Saturday and he couldn't be more excited. It takes a lot of planning, especially because he doesn't really know a ton of people in the Branch, so we've been having to figure out who to ask to give the talks, baptize him, and all that, but the Lord has his hands here in our work and we've been able to figure everything out! It was Leila's first time at church, but she loved it. She knew a ton of people there and it was all around a good experience for her. The primary asked me to go in half way to practice with them to play the piano.. they are so cute. Their little voices when they speak spanish... darling! Ah church was just all around so good. I felt so happy all day! These members feel so much like family and I absolutely love them. And Spanish is coming along so great! I love studying and practicing it and I've been giving my full heart in learning it. Yesterday as we were driving home on the free way, we passed this man on the side of the road looking at his car. We drove on by, but then seconds after we instantly felt the spirit to go turn around and offer help. So we did, and we literally pulled onto the side of this freeway, got out and asked if he needed anything. He asked if we could PUSH his car down into this little ditch so that we could jump it. Haha we were like yes of course! So we get out, he's in his car, we're on the side of the freeway with cars speeding on past, we are in pencil skirts, and we were just pushing the heck outta this car. We slowly but surely got it to roll back into this ditch, where we were able to help him jump it. We talked to him about the church, he wasn't interested. But it was such a good feeling knowing we had listened to the spirit. And hey who knows, maybe the day that the missionaries knock on his door, he'll let them in because he'll remember us helping him! Always follow the spirit! My comp and I were looking for this house the other day. We got off the train and saw houses up on the side of this hill.. so we were thinking that it was up there. So found ourselves in the middle of the Canada Stampede park! Haha it's the huge park with all these horse statues where they have the giant Stampede parade in July. It was so cool to walk around it and see everything! We crossed over the river and hiked up all these stairs to get to the top of this hill, and the view was beautiful! It was overlooking the entire city and the river and ah Canada is so beautiful. I'm loving every moment here. Canada is amazing and I'm so grateful to have this opporunity. I love working with these Latino people, they have the most loving hearts and I'm so happy I get to be apart of their lives right now. I love you all!

CIAO

Hermana Dean

10/19/15 Pictures

I love my companion!

Hermana Allphin and I waiting by the door to scare the sisters we live with haha

Sister Wagstaff

Sister Joseph! She dies in a week and a half :( :( (means she is going home)

It's SO fun living with two sets of sisters! Pday Eve is our night to party!

Karla Morales... one of the many reasons I was called to the Canada, Calgary mission speaking Spanish. She has changed my life! We tracted into her house the very first weekend we were here. Her family was less active, and slowly over these past two months we have reactived them and Karla is working on her mission papers!! I will send a pic of their whole family next week :)

Over looking the city and the stampede park

A few of the people from my zone!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

10/13/15 Group Email

This week was a good one!! Yesterday was Thanksgiving.. who the heck knew that Canada had that holiday in October rather than November?! I was so excited to get Turkey... but nope, tacos tacos tacos. Gotta love the Mexican food :) Last week we got another Investigator on date for baptism!! His name is Louis and he's from Mexico. We've taught him four lessons in a short two weeks, he is as our Bishop said "un investigador de oro"! He just loves the gospel and wants to learn everything about it. I was able to ask him what he was thinking about baptism and when he wanted to be baptized and he said "how about tomorrow?" Ah it was so the best! So he is getting baptized on the 24 of octubre.. it's coming up quick! He attended church yesterday for the first time. It was amazing to see him. He walked out the front door in his white shirt and tie, holding his book of Mormon under his arm. He had the biggest smile on his face and looked so happy! Everyone in the Branch immediately introduced themselves to him and he made instant friends. Latinos are the best people to be friends with, they just love everyone. I sat next to him during sacrament meeting. The closing song was Grand Eres Tu, How Great Thou Art, only my favorite song ever. The lyrics are sooo beautiful. I noticed he hadn't been singing and I was kinda wondering why. Well we said Amen after the closing oracion and we turned and looked at each other and his eyes were just full of tears. All he could say was "muy bontia" AHH it was amazing! I just wanted to wrap my arms around him and say welcome home! He loved every second of church and all he wants is to receive the Holy Ghost. It's such a good reminder to always remember that we have the gift of the holy ghost. It's such a powerful gift and we need to always use it! I'm loving the work up here in Canada, Calgary. We had the opportunity to go into the mountains last week and do a hike and wow I'm blown away and this beautiful country that I'm serving in. It is beautiful here and I am so lucky! Have a good week!

Con cariño

Hermana Dean