ASL Tender Mercy

Hey family I am doing really really well this week Ha ha! We don't have any time this week. But a miracle!

Thank you so much for emailing me, I really appreciate all that you have done for me. The miracle this week.. 

We had our Regina city temple trip-  there was a deaf member from Winnipeg coming to visit the temple, I was able to meet up with him,and actually help him in the temple. I am so grateful for that experience. They actually played the ASL video. It was wonderful, because of the tender mercies of the Lord. 

I love the Lord so much. I am amazed by his Grace. I also read this AMAZING article in the 2009 Jan ensign. "Witnesses of the Prophet, Joseph Smith" 

I love you!

Love Sister Tomkinson 

Eating Balot

Me eating balot. (a developing duck by embryo that is boiled). I have a video that you all will be able to see when I get home ha ha.:) I am so grateful for the M. family for having us over, and for always being so kind to me. And all the other missionaries. This was so much fun! I mean it was a little gross, minus the little. ;) But I did it!!

We also are moving this week! Ah so crazy! I am so glad though that we are physically and spiritually able to move.:) I am so blessed to have that strength!

This week we went on exchanges to Moose Jaw! That was so much fun! They have a tri-pan there, so Sister Smith went with the other two sisters, and I was with Sister Simpson. They're absolutely lovely sisters.And it was wonderful to go back to Moose Jaw! I always forget how small it is there. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to have served there.  And I get to go back! 

Our mission will be downsizing exponentially this next transfer. After next Wednesday our mission will have 102 Elders, and 20 Sisters. That is so small! They will be having 2 Sister Areas. 

  We also had a huge party for our Ward mission Leader. L. M.. He and his wife give everything, and make every opportunity a missionary one! I love the Filipino culture! They are so genuine and Kind. I love them so much! They had loads of friends from work there, and they had us give a spiritual thought. We played a game where they were lead into a circle of metal chairs. And they had to get out.. the way though was if they asked for help. then we went inside and watched a Mormon message. "Hope of God's Light" that is an absolutely wonderful video! If you haven't seen it,. watch it!http://www.mormonchannel.org/blog/post/discovering-the-hope-of-gods-light

!  I also had balot that is some crazy stuff! But we also had adobo?IDK how to spell it. ha ha. I love it though! And am so grateful for the many opportunities to meet so many people on my mission. I love the Lord so much! And I know that a mission is what I need to be doing. I love the Lord so very much! And I hope that you all have a great time this week! And Mother's day is coming up! What a wonderful day! 

I actually forgot all about it.. :/ ha ha thank you Dad for reminding me. ;) 

I love my mission,and I am doing so well! Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and kindness. I am eternally grateful for you. You have helped me to have strength to do hard things. Please let me know what I can do for you. And can pray for. :) I love you!

Love, Sister Tomkinson 

 One of my worst fears in life.  The last thing you want to see on exchanges.

 Elder Norfleet, Elder Baker, Elder Dotson, Elder Wallace, Sister Smith and I. 

This Part of the Lord's Vineyard

Hello! 

This week has been so crazy! :) 

We went on exchanges with the W. Sisters, and that was wonderful I love Sister Jacobs she is a great missionary!

W. is an investigator of ours. She has been in the hospital for over a month now. As she has been struggling with very personal difficulties. I am amazed at the strength that our Heavenly Father gives me,and my companion. I am not a counselor of any kind, I am not a great helper.. ha ha. But being able to represent the Lord Jesus Christ has helped this wonderful daughter of God feel peace, and love in her life. She is so wonderful. And she has a heart that is pure. With the divine help of our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost, W. Has been able to change slowly, but surely. She wants to be happy, and she wants to feel love in her heart. She knows that this is possible through our Savior. I am amazed at her example. And that Heavenly Father allows me to be apart of this. 

Another thing was we were able to help out with the primary activity here in the L. ward, and our ward mission leader is Filipino, and so is his wife. And they are the most giving, and loving people I know. I am so grateful to be their friends! They also make really delicious food!

We were also able to go to a Pow Wow this weekend. A less active, and her two sons were dancing in it. So we went during our lunch hour to go and say hello. It was really interesting and their outfits were absolutely beautiful. Incredibly detailed with beads. They dance the chicken,and the other is fancy. It is really wonderful to be surrounded by so much rich culture here. Which is surprising to me about this area of Canada. :)

Then yesterday as Sister Smith and I were stopping my some potential investigators. I backed her up. Doing so I stepped into some mud, so I was whipping off my shoe in the grass to wipe it off. She proceeded to roll down the window of the car and ask me what I was up to. I told her about the mud.. as I came back to the phone I then came to the knowledge that I had my finger caught in between the window, and the door frame.. oh man, ba-doodle, that hurt ha ha. :) I am so grateful for automatic windows, and for a companion who pays attention to me while I try and express my self... Because I was like my finger, my finger, my finger.. and then I pointed and she understood. :) It was great. :) 

Ha ha, I love this gospel and the work is going so well!

Thank you for all of your prayers, and thoughts I am so grateful for them. I am humbled to be serving the Lord in this part of the Vineyard! 

Love, Sister Tomkinson!

Parka Hair!

 HOLY this week has been so wonderful!!!! Parka hair!

Sharon's Farm

Ashley doing service at Sharon's Farm!

Welcome to the Hood

Creepy Parking Sign

Like my hair?

We had general Conference which is always the best thing ever! And we had the chance to go tot he temple with Kim! What a huge blessing from the Lord! 

I loved how it was mentioned in conference obedience is good, but truly it is by grace we are saved. I think about how much I don't seem to 'make it up to par', but that's not the point of this life. We aren't meant to beat ourselves down into meaningless pulp. But rather we are suppose to turn to our Savior, and He will help us reach out fullest potential. There was a quote I can't remember who said it but, it said.. "Average is the enemy of excellence" That really hit me. I can't just do 'good enough" but I want to do my very best all the time! To truly consecrate myself! And it's hard, but I know that it will be so worth it! 

I had the change to attempt to donate blood, but you need to have a 125 Iron reading level, and mine was 123. So lose, but yet so far. My companion about fainted while donating ha ha. Poor thing I felt bad for her. She got pretty sick,and was weak for about a hour. It was crazy. Just future reference don't do a liquid cleanse, eat half a sandwich and go donate blood. It doesn't work. :) Anyway I got to drive the car all by myself.. with permission from our mission president. It was the weirdest thing in the world! I mean I don't have P.T.S.D., but man I was weirded out. sang some hymns.. I haven't been alone in over a year!!!! It was crazy! :)

KIM!!!! It is wonderful to see her progress, and her faith. She is unfaltering, and so strong! She loved General conference, and she loved the temple! She is now interested in receiving a patriarchal blessing. What a miracle it is to be a part of someone's life like this. I love the being a missionary. And literally being in the front seat of someone's life changing as they are accepting our Savior Jesus Christ more,and more. I am so grateful to be here! I love it!

Sister Smith and I now are really wanting to find, and to find those who are prepared The Lord is so good to us! Kingdom builders, I constantly want to be one, and strive to be an even better and more faithful one! Especially for the temples! Very pleased with the announcement of 3 more temples! I pray that the progress of the Winnipeg temple will continue quickly. We don't have a lot of time, and we must get it going. I mean think of all those we need the temple, not just the living, but the dead, and those who are coming to the earth. 

I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. It was all over General Conference. I thought it was neat how last conference at least to me, was all about the Restoration, and this time it was about the Plan of Happiness. I am amazed at the inspiration, and revelation we can receive as we serve the Lord!  

Some of mine was just to keep going! And not being afraid to improve. Troy (my brother) gave me some great advice a few months ago, about how I am not suppose to be afraid of our potential.. And that advice has kept coming to my mind a lot. With that said, General Conference gives me the strength, and helps me build my faith in doing so! 

Scriptures I was reminded of while watching General Conference.

D&C 121 especially the last 20 or so verses.    Mosiah 2     2 Nephi 2     John 15      I wish I had my notebook with me, and I would write the other ones down. But I am so grateful for our modern day prophet. I know that he is a man called of God.  Things I am working on... faith, and humility.. hello always need help with that last one. I know though that we can't do this work on our own, I know that I am weak, but the Lord can do all things. 

I am so grateful to be here on my mission,and to serve the lovely people of Canada! What a blessing! :O I love the Lord! 

Oh and service, I totally need to get back on that court again! ;) 

Thank you all so much for your love, your prayers, and most definitely your support. I would be terribly difficult if I didn't have all of you to help me! And most  importantly if we didn't have the Lord. He loves you, and He knows us all. Hope that you have a great day! And a great week!  Thank you again for all that you do! 

Please let me know how I can help you! 

Love Sister Tomkinson 

Want to be Happy?

Kim!!!! she's wonderful! She was baptized,and it was her birthday! Her mother Marilyn came too it was so wonderful! We sang "When I am Baptized" And then her birthday cake had a rainbow on it.. it was perfect :) She is so wonderful! She already has her temple recommend and will probably attend with her this next week. :) Love you!

Thank you all for your love, and your support! We have laughed so hard this week! And everything has been just so much fun! 

We had our Easter Cantata! Where Sister Smith and I did a duet it was beautiful! Sister Smith sang "His Hands", where I signed the song,and she sang.. I'm pretty sure that she's going to be famous someday. :) 

And some people from Moose Jaw came down for the performance, it was sooo wonderful! I love it here!  I am so grateful that I am a missionary! If you want to be happy, make a change in somebody's life, even if it's just your own. If you want to be a better person, and develop your relationship with God read the Book Of Mormon! It is so AMAZING! We had Zone conference and it was the best one yet! I love how we can keep learning, more and more.  Sometimes it gets really hard, but it is always worth it in the end! 

Something that always helps me when I am feeling.. I don't know.. frumpy? Ha ha, is to smile! Smiling makes everything better! I love you!

Thank you so much for all of your love, and your support. I am so blessed to call you all my family and friends!

I love this gospel so much! And I am so grateful for the Lord in my life!

Oh my gravy, I almost forgot!

Helives.mormon.org 

http://www.mormon.org/easter   

Winnipeg trip to Regina Temple

YOU WERE RIGHT!  :) 

This week was soooo good! 

We had so much it was crazy!

On Monday there's a member in the Lewvan ward and they hold a "funeral service" at their house when a missionary is coming to the end of his or her mission. Elder McGreggor just went home this past week, because that's when the transfer ended. We had dinner, and we played a murder mystery game trying to decide through scripture how he 'died'. It was pretty good, it included scripture mastery, and scriptural knowledge. It was pretty neat!

Then we also met Kim's mom! Kim is doing so well by the way. She is really wonderful, and I am so happy that she's my friend. 

We also visited the K. family for a birthday party. They had fry bread, and a whole bunch of other food, we just came out of a meal appointment right before hand. So we were lucky because they let us out of not eating,  ha ha. It was really wonderful to meet all of them. A lot of them were baptized when they were little not knowing what they were involved with. So we are trying our best to reactivate them. They're so funny! We left before they went into a game of poker. ha ha. :) 

.. ha ha, we were at restaurant for district lunch.. when we being missionaries talk with everyone.. so this man was sitting near us, all by himself. He is about 6' 250 LBS shredded, but he's about 47 so he's a little soft. His arm which has a dragon tattoo probably the size of my thigh.. anyway we invited him to our Easter cantata, and to learn more about Christ. He said yes! Super exciting! So hopefully he'll come? He started texting two nights ago. He wants to take me to dinner, and other things.. so we are going to try and fix this situation.. I promise there was no flirtting to convert happening there! He's old, and it's irresponsible to do that. Pretty funny situation. My companion,and I are laughing it off. And don't worry I'll be safe :D

Great news! 

Went to the temple,and who was visiting?! My old ward from Winnipeg! I love them so much,  it was so good to see all of them! They were able to do baptisms, and Sister Smith's recent convert Sister G was there too, for her first/ second time. :) It was a miracle. The Lord is so good to us! 

I love you so much!

Thank you for all of your love,and support! 

Love Sister Tomkinson

p.s. all those who sent me letters for Christmas, my letters were lost I am sorry. :( I have been trying to find them, but no luck so far. In case you're wondering if you were going to get a letter. I don't have a forwarding address... and I am really lousy at letter writing. :) But I can't write you at all because I don't have your address. I love you all so much! 

PRAYER IS REAL, AND PRAYERS ARE FELT.

We got transfer calls and I will be staying here in Regina! I am so happy!

The Lord is so good to us here in Regina, we are so blessed!

I am amazed at the love I felt and the strength I was given this past weekend. It felt better than any other day. I am so grateful for all of your prayers, and for the love you have. Prayer is real. And Prayers are felt. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and the comfort He gives us. :)

This weekend my companion and I were able to be a part of a musical number it was great! I was singing, and signing.. haha I forgot to sign part of it..but it all buffed out because my companion is so good she could be on the radio! Legitimately.. totally could be. ;)

(Something Special)

Then we were also able to teach Kim, she is dong so well and progressing so well towards baptism! She is so happy and is looking forward towards that day. She is wanting to improve so much. And it is amazing to see how she is going through the repentance process. She helps motivate me to make repentance a daily thing, and make it sincere and true everyday. 

I love you all so much! Hope that you have a great day! Sorry I don't have a novel to tell haha. But know that I love the gospel. I know Christ lives. And that I am blessed everyday because of obedience, and your prayers, and sacrifices. Thank you all. 

Love Sister Tomkinson

 Sunrise on March 14, 2015 on the way to the Regina Canada temple.

 P-Day March 16, 2015