So Sister Atkinson and I are loving it here in Port Alberni! I can't believe i get to spend the next few weeks in such a beautiful place! Port Alberni is absolutely gorgeous! It is so green and the drive here is amazing! We got here Wednesday night around 6 and went straight to our apartment which isn't too bad (surprisingly enough as Elders were living there just before us) got all out luggage inside then went straight over to the ward mission leaders house and met him and his wife!! THEY WERE SO EXCITED!!!! It was crazy! We seriously felt so loved and wanted it was great! The wife took us on a drive to see the bishop, too look around town a little bit and go to a lesson with a member they are working with who is preparing to go to the temple soon! We also didn't have any food so she bought us some milk and juice as well! We got to go over a few things with them then it was off to our new home!
Thursday we had an interesting day trying to figure out where we were and make our way around but we did it and talked to amazing people that hadn't really met missionaries before but because the area is so small everyone in town knows a member! So we heard all about the members even before we met them which was kind of cool!
Friday was even crazier! We met a few awesome people in the morning then had a two hour drive to Duncan who then drove us to Victoria to see and hear John Bytheway in a special missionary fireside for all the missionaries on the island!!!!! It was amazing and i got to see Sister Christensen and a few other sisters that i just love!!!! it was aboslutely amazing!!! My mind was seriously blown and i learned so much and it was a lot of fun!!!! we talked a lot about testimonies and Alma 32! it was great! We slept over in the Duncan Sisters apartment and then drove the 2 hours back home and had a few lessons and lots of finding! We had a lesson with a girl we met, Julia on Friday and that went well! She is kind of a slow learner but will come around! While finding we found a great girl named Sarah who is so cute! She walked us to her house and we had a short lesson with her which was a miracle!!!!
Sunday we were finally able to meet all the members!!!! It was so great! they are all so excited to have Sisters in the ward! They had us bear our testimonies to introduce ourselves and i swear we met every member after Sacrament and the rest of the meetings. We also had a member invite 2 non members who loved church and want to come back next week!!! Then that night a member invited us over for dinner with 3 of her non member friends who are amazing and we were able to teach the Plan of Salvation and it really helped them! I just love it here so much!!!!
I love this gospel and the happiness and peace it brings to my life! It truly has changed who i am and my vision of who i want to become! I have really been learning so much and can't wait to learn more and continue to change and grow! Being here has been a big change but i know i was sent to Port Alberni for a reason and all i have to do is find that reason and change and grow from it! I love and miss you all!
Love,
Sister Heaton
Thursday we had an interesting day trying to figure out where we were and make our way around but we did it and talked to amazing people that hadn't really met missionaries before but because the area is so small everyone in town knows a member! So we heard all about the members even before we met them which was kind of cool!
Friday was even crazier! We met a few awesome people in the morning then had a two hour drive to Duncan who then drove us to Victoria to see and hear John Bytheway in a special missionary fireside for all the missionaries on the island!!!!! It was amazing and i got to see Sister Christensen and a few other sisters that i just love!!!! it was aboslutely amazing!!! My mind was seriously blown and i learned so much and it was a lot of fun!!!! we talked a lot about testimonies and Alma 32! it was great! We slept over in the Duncan Sisters apartment and then drove the 2 hours back home and had a few lessons and lots of finding! We had a lesson with a girl we met, Julia on Friday and that went well! She is kind of a slow learner but will come around! While finding we found a great girl named Sarah who is so cute! She walked us to her house and we had a short lesson with her which was a miracle!!!!
Sunday we were finally able to meet all the members!!!! It was so great! they are all so excited to have Sisters in the ward! They had us bear our testimonies to introduce ourselves and i swear we met every member after Sacrament and the rest of the meetings. We also had a member invite 2 non members who loved church and want to come back next week!!! Then that night a member invited us over for dinner with 3 of her non member friends who are amazing and we were able to teach the Plan of Salvation and it really helped them! I just love it here so much!!!!
I love this gospel and the happiness and peace it brings to my life! It truly has changed who i am and my vision of who i want to become! I have really been learning so much and can't wait to learn more and continue to change and grow! Being here has been a big change but i know i was sent to Port Alberni for a reason and all i have to do is find that reason and change and grow from it! I love and miss you all!
Love,
Sister Heaton