Mon.
May 27, 2013
Good Afternoon!
I finally feel like
I'm all settled in and getting into the swing of things :) I unpacked my
suitcase for real today. It felt super great because I've basically been living
out of a suitcase for the month of May. Hahaha.
Canada. Is. Awesome. I
thought it would be pretty similar to the US, but no. It's so diverse and
crazy. I love it :) Here are some reasons why I love it. 1. Milk comes in
bags... Crazy eh?! (PS. The correct way to say "bag" in Canada would
be bay-g. No joke.) 2. People push around carts with all their stuff in it.
Normal people. Not just homeless people. I thought there were TONS of homeless
people everywhere until my companion told me that was normal. I'm getting used
to it. 3. There is a restaurant called Tim Horton's and they're EVERYWHERE!
They are as common as McDonald's in the US, but it is not like McDonald's. At
all. It is fast food, but it's fresh. And oh so good! It's like a fast food
cafe. It's hard to describe... But they serve bagels, muffins,
doughnuts, sandwiches, etc. All of my favorite things. It's pretty much heaven.
4. People really do say "eh" :) I love it! One of my goals is to
adopt the Canadian accent. Pretty good goal eh?
We had a few dinner
appointments this week, which is unusual in a singles ward because college students
can barely feed themselves :) So it was a really nice way to meet members and
teach their non member friends. One of my favorite things is the
vast differences in culture! Therefore, at these dinner appointments, we
had some pretty interesting food... It was all super good! I just didn't know
what some of it was, and didn't bother asking :)
We are still teaching
Theo and he is actively preparing for his baptism on June 9th! He came to
church yesterday and talked more in gospel principles than the teacher! I was
amazed at his knowledge of the Bible. We are teaching two other investigators
that also have a baptismal date of June 9th. Jason and Brendan. They are
all super great guys and I think they will be ready. That will be a big day for
us :) Think of Theo, Jason, and Brendan on the 9th. We also started teaching a
guy named Adam this week. He told us about how he feels like something is
missing in his life and every time he prays a little part of that void is
filled for a moment. That's why he agreed to meet with us. We taught him the
Restoration and I felt the spirit so strong in that lesson. It was definitely
one of the most powerful lessons we've taught. He is so excited about the Book
of Mormon and committed to read this week. Our next lesson with him will
be on Friday so I'm way excited for that!
It's incredible how
the Lord just fills you with love for the people you serve. My calling before I
came on my mission was in the nursery. I sang songs with the nursery kids for
the last 15 minutes of church and it was the highlight of my week! I still pray
for those kids and love them so much! That same love fills me every time we
talk with someone on the street or teach a lesson. I love being a missionary!
Yesterday after church we went to visit a recent convert named Conrod, but he
wasn't home, so we contacted (walked around and talked to people on the street)
around that area. We talked with 3 guys that seemed really interested and
prepared to learn about the gospel. Tyler Brown, Damian, and the last guy was a
man named Diego. Diego was sitting on the curb with his head in his hands
looking really sad. We went over and started talking with him. We found out he
was from Guatemala. When we told him we had a message that could bring him
peace, he looked at our name tags and was so excited to be talking with us! We
gave him a mormon.org card that had our number on it and he called us about five
minutes later asking if he could talk to me again :) Hahaha. We wont be able
to teach him because we are in a YSA ward, but we will refer him to the Spanish
Elders and they will take good care of him. It really strengthened my testimony
of the reason I'm here.
We also had another
really cool experience on Saturday. We went to an apartment complex to
visit a recent convert named Sandra, but she wasn't home. So we just decided to
knock doors on our way down the stairs. One of the doors we knocked on was
answered by a black lady named Ria and her little girl. I asked the little girl
if she wanted a picture of a castle :) (aka- the pass along card of the Salt
Lake Temple.) Then we told her mom that because of that building and the
things we do inside that building, we can be with our families forever! We set
up an appointment, but once again, we cant teach her because she's not YSA. So
we also referred her to some other Elders who will teach her all that she needs
to know. I actually really love talking with people on the street and knocking
on doors because people are just so different!
Church was awesome
yesterday! I got called out of the audience to bear my testimony because there
was a gap in the program that needed to be filled. So naturally, everyone wants
to hear from the new kid :) I'm glad I had the opportunity to bear my testimony
because it strengthens my testimony every time I share it. And I share it a lot
these days :) Wow I'm blessed.
Thank you for all of
your love and support! I love being a missionary and telling people why I am so
happy! I know that God lives and that His Son, Jesus Christ, not only
died for us, but lives for us. That knowledge makes me want to live for Him as
well. Keep smiling and have a great week :)
Love and prayers
forever, B
