Started off with me getting a call from the Victoria Police, which I answered rather apprehensively. All of a sudden I hear, "Hi, this is the Chief of Police here in Victoria. I'm looking for Reagan Curtis?" and then my heart DROPPED because my cute dad served in Colombia and instantly all his stories of dealing with corrupt police and escaping bombed out chapels and being trapped in apartments and such came to mind, even though I'm currently living in Canada lol. Also it was alarming to hear my first name. Long story short, he found my wallet. Which I didn't know was lost. And God is WAY too good to me. 

Church yesterday was dreamy, IF YOU DON'T GO TO CHURCH THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO GO CAUSE YOU ARE MISSING OUT AND IT'S RIDICULOUSLY GOOD FOR YOU and I ilove love love my YSA branch and Tomomi, my Japanese best friend came. And Kash, my Iranian best friend who I met at a bus stop the other day and literally thanked me so much for approaching him and inviting him, and Yiyi, my Chinese best friend told us that her mom said she "can't be one of us" which was a little heart wrenching but we're carrying onnnnnnnnnnn. (Don't worry Dina, you're still my best - Arabic - speaking friend. Also yes I know Iranians speak Persian but I still felt near to you with that <3 ). Sitting in Gospel Principles and hearing the other YSA kids translate for each other and realizing how God had pulled each of us from so many corners of this continent and others to be there together was a tender moment. As I was sitting in sacrament meeting I realized that my mind and my heart were being pulled in about 100 different directions, as I scanned the room and thought about the current concerns and needs of all the members and investigators and missionaries. At the beginning of my mission, those feelings were exhausting, but now they light me up in a way. It's a privilege to be in this position.

About a million other good things happened, including exchanges with my Taiwanese best friend Sister Wu. Sidenote: everything that comes out of her mouth wrecks me, she's so funny hahahha. We were working out that morning and her response to every single ab workout I showed her was "soooo cuuuuuuute!!!". 

Love love love you all.

Hermana Curtis

PS Please pray that Sister Chandler and I stay put with transfer calls coming up, partially because she's the greatest in all of ever and partially because our CANADIAN (believe it or not) best friend Kai just set a baptismal date for May 20th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the fourth time we'd invited her!!!!!!!!!!! Never give up :):):):)

pictures:

1. me in china

2. charlie's angels @ the gov't house

3. sister chandler's attempt to make art. super blessed to have her.

4. tomomiiiiiiiiiiiiii

5. cutest vanessa who fed me squid :))))

 

 

Last week consisted of Zone Conference and interviews with President (I look forward to those 15 minutes with him for months every time), Cadbury eggs, and days of milagros.

We had three days of straight finding (zero appointments) which was DAUNTING. Contacting people on the street, knocking, bus contacting, whatever it may be, it's generally uncomfortable. I decided it's kinda like a bandaid. Your first one of the day is always a little awkward for both parties, so you just have to get it over with and get warmed up. Sister Chandler and I went into this weekend with faith high, determined to earn some miracles and some new people to teach.

AND GUYS GUESS WHAT IT TOTALLY WORKED.

We made a few Chinese friends who want to learn more, met a boy named Nicholas who grew up with Mormons and literally stopped me on UVIC campus to tell me that he respects what I'm doing and wants to come to church, met a man from El Salvador who has a nephew on a mission in Honduras and wants a Libro de Mormon, and, my personal favorite:

We knocked into a party of a dozen Cubans :)))) One of whom had been studying religions and wondering where he could get his hands on a Book of Mormon????? And only speaks Spanish??????? And the Spirit had literally told me that morning to put a Spanish BoM in my bag even though I never use them on the island?????????? Yeah. True story. So me and the darling greenie that I was with for the day literally got invited in to a full blown Easter party on our first door knock of the day. The best.

I read  John 20 and 21 repeatedly this week, it is simple and powerful. I'm grateful for these days to celebrate Jesus Christ and His life and His sacrifice and His words and the fact that He still lives today. I am grateful that, because of Him, none of the best things will ever end.

Love you all to pieces, 

Hna Curtis

Pictures!!!!!

- 9 months and straight hair :))

 

 

- EASTER SUNDAY with our favorite humans, Charissa (member) and Dani (my investigator who will forever be cooler than me)

 

 

 

- Exchanges with Sister Kim from Korea, who was THOROUGHLY convinced until I stayed the night with her that I got up every morning and painstakingly curled all my hair to look the way it does??????? Bless her heart. Also thought cows and horses were the same thing. 

 

 

 

I love you people LOADS. 

Remember that "we give our lives to that which we give our time" (terribly ironic that I'm currently preaching to you all via email on the proper use of time).

And also, most importantly, remember that Easter is about Christ and the fact that, because of Him, everything doesn't have to end. 

<3

-Hermana Reagan Curtis

OH YEAH AND I HIT NINE MONTHS THIS WEEK. ABSOLUTE MADNESS.

 

 

I am currently exhausted. But very pleased with this last weekend. And thrilled because our best friend Ellie, who also provides us with free poutine, is taking us hiking after this :))) LOVE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

Last week was pure chaos and we spent a grand total of ONE day in our area last week which means we have loadssss of work to do starting tonight at 6pm, but we're ready for it :) Thursday we hopped on a ferry to the mainland for MLC, which was remarkable as per usual. We spent 8 hours in a room with 38 other missionary leaders from across the province and I am amazed over and over again by the caliber of missionaries serving in the Canada Vancouver mission. I'm constantly trying to collect pieces of their minds and spirits to add to my work, and hopefully character. 

Past missionaries serving on the island had seriously put the fear of God into Sister Chandler and I about contacting and teaching on the ferry, because apparently it's illegal, but one of the Assistants heard me say that and turned to me and said, (please use an Australian accent, it was far more intense that way), "Sister Curtis, you proselyte until they are holding you over the edge of the boat." And I said, "Okay." So we hopped back on the ferry, getting wary looks from absolutely everyone as we generally do, and I was just PRAYING. Like, okay, yes I am willing to do this, but this is definitely a situation requiring some diplomacy. But, because God is super good to me, I instantly heard a family speaking Spanish behind me. And partially because I will never be over the "gringa speaking fluent Spanish" effect, I bee-lined it to them and spent the majority of the rest of the hour and a half ride teaching them about temples and families and the Book of Mormon and they LOVED IT and totally gave me their number. And the best part is, LITERALLY NO ONE COULD GET MAD AT ME BECAUSE NOT EVEN MY OWN COMPANION COULD UNDERSTAND ME. 

Also, General Conference is the best thing in all of ever.

Go watch all of it. Again. Hearing the prophet and Apostles speak is literally equivalent to hearing Peter or Paul from the Bible preach, why would we not spend every waking moment replaying and rereading this modern day scripture? 

ALSO I would just like to note how much respect I have for all the speakers who had English as a second language, and willingly got up and spoke in front of an audience of tens of millions of people about salvation. That is a big deal. Speaking in sacrament in a new language is enough of a trial some days.

I love you all LOADS. I love my mission, I love that God has our backs always and forever. Even when we are entirely unaware of it. I am learning diligence, hope, and how to be a good grown up. 

xxx Hermana Reagan Curtis