Christmas & Dad and Carole's Engagement

Hello Family and Friends, 

Wasn't this such a great Christmas! I really loved talking, and enjoying my time with each of you on SKYPE I wish  I had had more time, but alas. It is all good, and I will be approaching my year mark, then Mother's Day will be right around the corner! :D

I am loving my new area, and my new companion, and our stewardship! They are amazing Sisters! It is so crazy to be in Winnipeg, it is huge! It is so weird that there are so many missionaries around! I mean- I went from seeing Sister missionaries once, maybe twice a transfer to seeing them all the time, because we go to church in the same building. The work here in the  city of  Winnipeg is so different, but it is different everywhere. And I think with adjusting comes new stresses, but I have been blessed with a loving companion, and we get along great! 

It was so good to see you all, and to hear from you all. 

This past week I was able to receive a blessing from our Ward Mission Leader. He is a very good man, and I am humbled by the priesthood power. I know that God lives, and that He loves us all individually. We are His children, and he wants and knows what is the very best for us. 

This past Christmas time our mission president challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in a week. And to devote most of our time,and energy to do so.  It is amazing! I have seen, and felt my testimony grow in the last week. If you don't have, or want to increase your testimony, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon, ponder, and pray about it. Then ask God our Father it it is true. I promise you as you do so, you will have an increased desire to know more, and you will feel the Love of our Savior. In the beginning of the Book Of Mormon it talks about praying, and reading with real intent. To me that intent means to know of our Savior Jesus Christ. Why He is important, and why it is important that we share and come to know Him. It has helped me realize what He has done for me, and what He can, and is helping me with. I love the Lord, and our Savior Jesus Christ. He lives. 

I also gave a talk on Sunday. My first one on my mission. I studied and prayed this whole week. And it is crazy how the Lord will never abandon us, as long as we are obedient and are doing our best. I feel the spirit so strongly here. And I have come to realize how much I love sign language, I do. I light up, and It helps me to be who I am. My companion and I did a musical number after my talk We sang/signed the "Joseph's First Vision" #26 . It was beautiful. I sang soprano, and she did alto, I signed the song as well. It was lovely. The spirit was so strong. I can hardly remember what happened. I just know that music is a huge way that the Lord shows His love for His children, and we show our love to the Lord. 

Congratulations again Dad on your engagement to Carole Peck, I pray that we may all have soft hearts, and be able to help you and Carole transition into a life together. 

I know God has a plan for each of His children. And how desperately I want to follow His plan. Because He has proven me in days past; I will be happy, as long as I will follow His will, and obey His commands. I love This gospel, and the Atonement. I am so grateful that we can repent, and become closer, and closer to our Savior, and our Heavenly Father, and to the Holy Ghost. Make them a  part of your daily lives. 

Love you all, and thank you for all that you do for me, and for each other. I lam so blessed, I cannot thank you enough. 

Love Sister Tomkinson 

Transfer, Training Leader, and Testimony!

Well, as the subject of this email is based on transfers.. I am letting you know that I am moving to the London Ward in Winnipeg, I will be serving as a Sister Training Leader there, and I will be serving with Sister Davis. She's a super hard worker, I am so looking forward to serving with her! It's going to be the best!

I am though going to desperately miss this area so much! I've heard leaving your second area is the hardest... but we can do hard things right?

I have to go in like 4 minutes.. so I wanna share my testimony.

I know that the Lord has a plan for each of His children. That we may not always see why, or how, or we may think...'what the?'  But He truly does. I know that if I am being called to do certain things then the Lord will provide a way. And it is a way where I will be the best I can be, and be the most happy. I prayed and asked the Lord for an increased desire, and to be hard working, and to be able to balance my time better. And this is one of the small ways He is fulfilling His promise to help me be all that I can be. I am grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, and that we can repent, and that we can become what God wants to us to be. I am really grateful for my family, and friends. For all that you do for me, and for the Lord. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

P.S. Yes, I did get the packages. Thank you very much

Love Sister Tomkinson

P.P.S.. Something interesting..? I am being transferred today, to Regina, we are leaving soon because of day light. Then we are leaving at 6:00 in the morning to get to Winnipeg tomorrow. :) I love the Lord and all that He does for us. :)

"As I continued reading, I felt the Spirit testify to me, that the work that my companion and I do is the Lord's work, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the one and only fully restored gospel on the earth today."

Sister Larson, ward mission leader and I.

Selfie :)

Check out our recycling pile!

Egg Nog

Road Conditions

First off, I wanna give a shout out to my darling Sister Cora. It is her birthday today!!!! She's so beautiful, and wonderful. I wouldn't be the same person I am now without her. She has made me strong, and understanding. Helped me through so much, and is just amazing! I love her! :) 

Second have you checked out christmas.mormon.org yet???? It is amazing, and I urge you to do so! It will bless your life immensely! And possibly the lives of so many others! See how you can Discover, Embrace, and Share the Gift! BTW great ideas for FHE just sayin' #ShareTheGift

So this week family, and friends we had Christmas zone conference, and it was so much fun! I am just loving it here the good ol' CWM!!!!!

There definitely was a huge push on the developing your own testimony of Jesus Christ. And definitely something that I received from the conference was to serve more, and to love people more sincerely and deeply. For the last little while I have been just falling into a slump, slump dump. So what better way to get out? Well, dig yourself out with service, and love. And it has changed my attitude, and even my diet! It's amazing! I love this work so much! 

And this morning we were out shopping at SuperStore, a man said he had a friend who is a member of our congregation. We were like- neat! We shared a christmas.mormon.org card. It was great! As we continued talking he said 'Hey you should go look up Galatians 1.' So I did.... I was surprised by the first line of the chapter heading. "Preachers of false gospels are accursed" 

As I continued reading I was surprised by this man's boldness, and was a little stunned by the what seemed innocent, but it was persecution that had just happened. But what I think he wanted to have happen, actually had an opposite effect. As I continued reading I felt the Spirit testify to me, that the work that my companion and I do is the Lord's work, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the one and only fully restored gospel on the earth today. Joseph Smith did translate the Book of Mormon, and that it is the word of God. I love our Savior Jesus Christ. And I want to learn of Him everyday. One way I try to do so is by being Christlike and by developing Christlike attributes... if you need help, and I believe we all do. Preach My Gospel has a great section on them found in chapter six.  "I feel [our] Savior's love, the Love He freely gives me."

I love you guys, and I hope that you will all have such a great week! love you all, and thank you for all of your love, and support it means the world to me. :) 

Love Sister Tomkinson

p.s. look at your December Ensign, and look at what the first Presidency is asking of it's members. Joshua 1:9

:)

Miracle snow boots, just in time!

This week has been good, and it has been so cold! 

  *Miracle! So my debit card hasn't been working in Canada= can't spend money unless it is for the things as outlined in the W.H.B. Look at lds.org for details. Anyway so, a tricky member, who is now a ward missionary, Sister Sherlock, bought me boots! They were on sale too! :D Anyway the weather turned terrible on Tuesday! So huge blessing I had boots, just in time for it to get super cold, and snowy! And the entrance to the building is a little questionable, I have pictures. But I forgot my card reader. Hopefully sometime soon I will send pictures. 

Yesterday was -31* F with the wind chill... super cold! But super good too! :) I love Sunday!

They will only cancel church if it's -40* 

So many of you have probably seen Facebook, and all sorts of media plastered with "He is the Gift.christmas.mormon.org"  And with that have you all received your Ensigns?????????????

Within your Ensign there should be about 6-9 pass along cards with the picture of Mary, and Jesus, while He is a baby. It's beautiful. 

  Anyway those pass along cards are for you all to pass out! => hint PASS along cards! ;) 

As you share these cards, I invite you to bear strong testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and to develop your relationship with our Savior. That is a relationship that can weaken, if it's not growing. 

Also, I am curious, have you all been sharing spiritual experiences with those around you? Family members, friends, have you been writing them down in your journals? If you want these experiences, you have to let the Lord know that He can trust you to give you such experiences. Now I know that that's not exactly how it always works. Look at Lamen and Lemuel, the prophet Nephi's brothers. They saw Angels, and had many spiritual witnesses, but alas they still fell away from Christ. Which brings me back to if you're not growing, you're slopping downwards. It may be slow, or rapid. But I strongly encourage you to grow. 

In Preach My Gospel, it says.. "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work. With the Spirit magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. (or in your own house, neighborhood, etc...) Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability." -President Ezra Taft Benson.

I love this quote, because I definitely -at times, like to override the Spirit, and then I think.. 'What am I doing?!" Just always go by the Spirit, He will help us in ALL aspects of our lives! This is something that I am doing to improve this week! 

:) I love you, and oh, we're going on exchanges this week! I get to be companions with Sister Christensen for a day! It's going to be the best! 

Thank you for all of your love, kind words, and support. I cannot do this with out you. 

Love Sister Tomkinson

P.S. If you are wanting me to email you, please write me an email first. :) I do not have the magical ability to know everyone's email. If so that'd be the best! Love you all, and again thank you for all that you do!

Love you!