FREEZING IN FREDERICTON

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HIIII everyone!!!! I can't thank you enough for being my family... Honestly, that might sound weird but I just love you all so much! 

Take a step back today and think about how blessed we are to be together. Then thank Heavenly Father for families! I LOVE telling everyone about you - I am so proud and thankful for my support back home.

Yes President is great! He is so funny and thoughtful. We were taking a picture together (President, Sister Leavitt and I) and I accidentally started putting my arm around him......he kindly corrected me and I was laughing inside. Bless my heart.  

So I've been assigned to the Fredericton, New Brunswick area as you know. It is beautiful but the towers of dirty snow make it a little hard to recognize right now..the river is beautiful though! Soo send all the letters and packages you want to my apartment here :) my address is: 

240 Parkside Drive #3 

Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5V7 

CANADA

THANK YOU - I would love that but no pressure.

My apartment is a little scary, it reminds me of the place where the missionaries were abducted in the movie, The Saratov Approach, it smells like drugs and is not very cute. My bed is totally slanted but it's close to the church and I can't complain!! It's home....now. 

My trainer is Sister Lewis, she is from Sandy, Utah and she is the Sister Training Leader (the girl version of a zone leader) and I LOVE her!! (and that is awesome for emma,being made sister trainer!! she inspires me and helps me be happy!!!)  

Sister Lewis has been out about 9 months and is such a hard worker. We get along really well which is nice because instead of working through problems in our companionship we get to focus on others and the work here in Fredericton - which is crucial right now. There are two elders here with us and a senior couple. The elders are also the Zone Leaders and the Hendrickson's are great. Just in case you wanted to know...;) 

The ward is wonderful, most of the members are converts and it's very different from anything I have grown up around but it's good for me to see and be a part of. I got to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. I talked about D&C 84:88 LOOK IT UP - the Lord is with me every step of the way and that gives me strength and hope. 

We spend a lot of our time street contacting and knocking which is a little discouraging. 

First because it's cold outside (and this week was supposedly a warm spell..) 

Second, because it gets very dark outside around 6 and the town totally shuts down. People either don't answer or don't want to talk to us. It is a little discouraging when you're tired but trying to put your biggest smile on..

THIRD -  the ultimate rejections come. People will turn their porch lights on, stare at us, then look at our tags, shake their heads and turn the light off...all without even saying a word. We stand their smiling, then look at each other and walk away - a little more humbled each time. 

I wish there was a better way of finding people but Sister Lewis told me that this is a tracting mission.. The ward tries to help but we are just getting the area on its feet so things are progressing slowly but surely..we won't forget that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We have a lot of plans for getting our names out there and actually finding people to teach so I have hope and faith in the future. 

This month I am working on the challenge that Adelide begun which is developing a Christlike attribute each month I'm here. 

I am starting with faith. 

What a wonderful thing to work on, even though Fredericton is a hard area - I have faith that Heavenly Father sent me here for a reason and I have faith to learn what he wants me to learn. I have faith that we will find investigators and that we will reach our goals. 

In this mission we memorize a lot of things, we have a strict schedule and President is very organized - sounds like things I love right? I am enjoying it. 

I am trying to send Dad something for his birthday but DAD - thank you for having such a strong testimony and love for our Savior. Thank you for being so responsible and thoughtful;. Thank you for teaching me that I can never give up and that I must always find the courage to try. Thank you fro teaching me to love life and to be grateful for our countless blessings. Thank you for giving me your eyes and inspiring me to be better. Thank you for the reminder that I must forget myself and serve serve serve. I love you with all my heart and can't thank you enough for being my dad. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Oh and I'm sure stake conference was incredible - you are amazing. 

Glad luce had fun at her dance. I miss her soooooo much. I miss the way she told me her long, drawn out but amazing stories as we laid in bed and I tried really hard to stay awake. GOOD JOB ON THE WIN!! Wish I could be there playing right by your side. You are incredible. 

Tell jake I love him and miss him. Hope he is happy.

And tell the married people that they are the best. I loved hearing their voices the other week. And if the boys have mission advice - LET ME HEAR IT!!!!

Just want you to know that when times are tough I remember that I am not alone. My Savior needs me here and he is blessing me for my efforts. So many people are working together to build up his kingdom and I am thankful that he is allowing me to be part of his army. With him - we cannot fall. Reach out and be an example to everyone you see. AND ALWAYS SMILE EVEN WHEN YOUR FACE IS FROZEN. I love you all. 

Bye bye,love Sister G

PS I do want to build a snowman!

MTC pictures - Grace's  Companions

Grace's zone at the MTC