Transfer Completed

Greetings from Canada!

It's a balmy 5 degree's outside, and sunny, mostly clear skies. It's glorious :). Happy Birthday dad! I hope it was wonderful! Thank you for the tie food recipe mother I appreciate it! My tight wad tendencies have left me with like 100 dollars of allotment left, so I think I'll get a little more creative in my food buying. As a rule most stuff here is a bit more expensive, but at Costco it's great. The hotdogs are still a buck fifty with a drink, which is actually cheaper than in the states, due to differences in currency value. Are apartment is tidy and a house of order, though sometimes the dishes don't totally done and put away for a few days at a time haha :) 

Missionary work is moving forth here with increasing rapidity, and is stagnating in other aspect haha, but we do what we can. A friend of one of the ward members will be coming to church with her son next Sunday which was kind of out of the blue and awesome. We may begin teaching her in a few weeks if everything goes well. Barbra is sick off and on and therefore hasn't been able to make it church. But she is progressing and we will be committing her to a date of baptism for the 28th of February. She is super prepared and readily accepts the truth of the restored gospel and all that accompanies it. She's golden and we love her. The family we are teaching from Ethiopia is progressing as well, little by little. Hopefully the two oldest kids will be able to get out to activity's next Wednesday and hopefully they'll all be able to get to church as well, but they are always so busy with work and sports. Someday, someday they'll find a way to make coming to church a priority in their lives.

We helped a man in the ward move yesterday. Leading up to his house was a steep and slick driveway, about 40 yards in length. As the other Elder in our area ascended the hill, they hesitated for a moment, and the car lost momentum. It started sliding back, and they were force to withdraw. Likewise, in our lives, if we are not spiritually progressing, we are regressing. without the constant nourishing of our spirits with the Word of God and praying daily and refreshing that channel of communication with our father in heaven, we grow dimmer and dimmer in our testimonies and become less willing to fulfill and magnify the callings to which we are appointed. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 

I love you guys so much and I'm thankful for your example. I truly was born of goodly parents and I am seeing the truths of what I have been taught Illuminated and expanded as I have put my hand to the plow in this corner of the world. Keep on Keepin' on! 

Love, 

Elder Higginson

Greetings to the good peope of the south!

Greetings to the good people of the south! Life's pretty good here up north. It's a balmy 3 degree's Celcious (close to 38 Fahrenheit) here in St. Albert. It's actually been like that for the last week or so, excluding Sunday. We actually saw the sun and blue sky last Friday! glorious! 

We had a trainer/new missionary training meeting with the mission president last week. It was good to see the old MTC buddys and learn how to be more effective missionaries. I'm starting to get a better Idea of effective ways to do missionary work. My companion and I are specifically working on organizing referrals and always asking for them, from everybody. The work is a lot more effective when the ward is involved in sharing the gospel, inviting people to come to church, and befriending and including others. Something that one of the wards in our District is doing is having a ward fast for missionary work. In Alma Chapter 6 vs. 6, the people "gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God." My companion said that when they did something similar in one of his other area's, some lady called him up and wanted to go to church. There is great power in purposeful fasting and prayer.

On February 28th, we are going to be shadowed all day by members of the ward, who will be taking pictures of us and posting them on Facebook, the purpose being to improve peoples conception of missionaries and what we do. The reason for this is the "Book of Mormon" play coming to Edmonton on that date and creating all sorts of misconceptions in the public mind concerning missionaries and what we do. But it matters not.

"no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done”

We are increasing our efforts day by day and consecrating our efforts unto the lord, that they may be for the welfare of our souls and for the souls of others. I prayed for every single one of you by name yesterday: Edwards, Higginson, Strauss, Clements, Burnett, Duval, McCombs, McPherson, Clark- all of you individually, And I love all of you so much. I know you pray for me and I have felt your prayers. 

Love,

Elder Higginson

Week 5

Hey everyone!

Glad to here that life is going along swimmingly back home. I am praying for Dad as well and I hope that the Lord will see fit to bless you all as I tend to the ministry wherewith I have been entrusted. I will be taking over this area in less than 7 weeks! it's crazy how time flies here. My Companion and I got a new car! Brand new 2015 Toyota Corolla. And the best part? HEATED SEATS. Apparently Our mission is one of the most expensive in the world, due in no small degree to the fact that most of us have sweet cars haha. Missionaries in Peace River, a spread out northern area, drive thousands of Kilometers a month, It's ridiculous. We try to walk around when possible, but it gets pretty spread out here as well. Our area is divided between a decent sized town, classified as North-West Edmonton, and the outlying rural stuff on the outskirts of the town. but I digress.

My Companion and I have been listening to a multitude of Talks when we drive. We came across one by  called, "Swallowed up in the will of the Father" by Neil A. Maxwell. The topic was about Consecration. When We consecrate something, we dedicate it to God. As missionaries, we ought to try to consecrate ourselves. This is no easy task as it includes not only dedicating all of our labors to the lord, but also all of our thoughts without reservation. Often times when the day is finished, I often time find myself thinking of fire arms or other trivial pursuits of earlier days. But I am realizing more and more every day that I should be devoting my whole mind to the father, that I might serve him with ALL my Mind, Might, and Strength. As Elder Maxwell noted:  

"the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give.

Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory."

I am growing in my desire to serve the Lord. I know that as I more fully dedicate my whole soul to him, that he will direct me for good. I miss you all and pray for you often. I have been so blessed to be placed in such a wonderful family! Never Change.

Love,

Elder Higginson

The weather outside is frightful

Hello Family!

Wow, it' been a roller coaster of a week! Can't remember too many details honestly. Good thing I'm keeping a journal! It was -25 celcious (about -15 F) when we tracted on Wednesday. Holllyyy Craaabb. Thermals and double wool socks can't keep that cold at bay! We tracted for an hour and then warmed up in the car. It was -30 celcious on Sunday morning. freezing. We have two teaching appointments with investigators that we've found! Barbra, the Native American woman I told you about earlier and Shanny, across the hall in our apartment. Our diligent efforts are finally paying off! Barbra is really interested and has kept in close contact with us. She was going to come to church last Sunday, but due to the diligent efforts of Satan, she got really sick the night before and couldn't come. But she set up an appointment with us tomorrow herself, so I'm exited! We got to go to the Temple this morning! It was a glorious experience and I'll send pictures next time, when I have my camera. Our zone has a rule where if you slip on the ice at any given time during the week, you have to buy your district Donuts. I have not slipped yet, but my comp slipped twice within 50 steps! hahahaha. Apparently Elder Taylor (Ann Dillons guy) was in my area just before I was. 

Thank John and Becca for sending an awesome package to me! I think it was them anyway. It said it was from knoxville and McCombs but nothing else. It's a sweet pocket Book of Mormon, with my name stamped on it and a Canadian Maple Leaf on the Back. And Guess what else!?!?! I found some Chicken pot pies!!!! other that, my companion and I eat pretty healthy- fruit smoothies, bird seed and rye chips with humas, almond milk, copious amounts of water ect. His mom made him eat healthy before his mission. He also Is a crazy biker- he did a 206 mile bike ride in 12 hours. We go running in the morning when it's not cold. I have never had an actual desire to eat healthy before now. The Scriptures say to in many instances tell us to nourish ourselves with the good word of God. They Promise that as we do the will of the Father we "shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." As we study the scriptures we can know the truth of all things. We can receive direction in our lives. The scriptures contain messages that are applicable to all people from all walks of life, regardless of the times in which we live. It is something that I have notices concerning the teachings of Christ: The words he spoke to his disciples and others had special subliminal implications to the Jews living in that time, but also had broader application to everyone who would read his words later. In the Gospel of John, the 14th Chapter and 27th verse, Jesus says "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In Jewish Culture, "Peace be with you" was a common salutation, which is why the Jesus modified it and specified that it was different and of greater significance than that salutation. Not as the world giveth. This phrase gives the scripture greatest meaning to us, in that it helps us understand that the peace the gospel brings can exist beyond the circumstances of our lives. Jesus truly was the Christ, sent from Heavenly Father to save and redeem ALL MEN. I love you all so much! I pray for you all, that you will be safe. I pray that Michael, Davis, Parker, and Mckay will always choose the path the leads to serving a mission. I love you all and I hope good things are happening in your lives. I can't wait to be with you all forever!

Love,

Elder Higginson