Week 34, 5/16/16

Greenfield, Alberta is on Fire!

Hey everyone! Alright first things first, Greenfield is not literally on fire haha. Unfortunately a lot of Alberta is, and who knows maybe Edmonton will be soon but I'm talking figuratively here. So much happened this week, it has been so awesome!!

Meet Elder Jenson

Let's get right to it: So Elder Alvey got transferred on Wednesday and I have a new companion! Elder Jenson from near the small town of Leadore Idaho, he says the population is about 90 people haha, he is gluten intolerant, barely knows how to ride a bike, and is a super great guy. At first he was SUPER shy, and he still is around people other than me, but at least he has opened up to me a little bit haha. Our interests are pretty different but he is a stud and we get along great! He is a humble, super hard working, obedient missionary who is super willing to put in the work required to see real results. That is exactly what I was praying for in my next companion so I am stoked! 

We have seriously been finding machines for the past few days! We have had more success tracting and street contacting in the past few days than I have had on my whole mission! We have really been focusing on some lower/middle income areas where there are lots of foreigners and refugees from Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, China, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Nigeria, you name it. Each of the past three days I have ran out of basically all the supplies I have in my bag to give people like pass along cards, Book of Mormons, pamphlets, etc. I don't know what it is but people have been so receptive! Just since Friday night Elder Jenson and I have found 15 potential investigators, probably half of them we taught the restoration to on their doorstep and gave them a Book of Mormon, and 2 new investigators. A lot of them are Muslim and pretty active in their faith, so I'm not sure how much real progress we will actually see from all those people. Since being here I have really noticed how kind most Muslim people are, they usually will listen to what we have to say even if they're not interested, and they are always super nice. 

Elder Wildes Donair Pizza Bday Party

Anyways let me tell you about our 3 new investigators. The two we found during tracting are Bxxxx and Mxxxxxx from Pakistan, and yes they are muslim. We tracted into them on Saturday night and they let us in and were so warm and welcoming. Mxxxxxx went and made some cool snack called gaz or something like that and brought us a bunch of fruit and tea.... Haha we felt so bad rejecting the tea. We had just started fasting a few hours before to find some people to teach, but we figured the Lord would understand if we put it on pause to be polite. We taught them the restoration and gave them the whole shabang and we are coming back to teach more whenever we get a Persian copy of the Book of Mormon for them. 

Scenic walk home along Whitemud Creek

There is also Violet who is an inactive member, and Loice another new investigator. They are friends originally from Zimbabwe (apparently there is a CRAZY back story there), and they are refugees who were in Fort Mac during the big fire and got evacuated. Some members in our ward are letting them stay at their house till they can go back, and they invited us over for supper and we met them and talked a little bit and they are so cool! We shared a message before we left about turning to God each day to get through our trials and shared a daily bread video from Elder Christofferson, and they just went off about how much they thank God each day and how much they are grateful for everything He does for them even through all of their terrible trials..... Basically they make me feel like an ungrateful hoser. After that we asked if they would like to meet with us to increase their faith in the Savior and they are totally down! We haven't officially taught them yet but we are hoping to sometime this week. We are super excited! 

Another event that is noteworthy is talking with a new potential Darryl. We were visiting an inactive lady and her son/nephew/random guy living at her house (we don't know) came to the door and literally asked: "So.... Like... What do people have to do for you to baptize them? Is there just like a waiting list somewhere or what? Can I get baptized?" Hahaha apparently he has a Catholic girlfriend and wants to be able to relate to her more so he wants to get baptized... We are hopefully meeting with him tonight, should be fun:) 

                                              Watch if you dare.  Just burning some calories ;)

We were also able to finally do some good service for a potential this weekend! We helped a super nice elderly lady with her yard work, it was tons of fun and we got a lot of work done. Plus she gave us cookies, ice cream and apple juice afterwards:) I don't know if you folks reading this can feel it through what I have already told you but I am literally feeling like I'm being showered with blessings right now!! They never stop!

Lovin' my new comp!

I have a testimony that this really is the Lord's work and we can be instruments in His hands and He will bless us with opportunities to share the gospel if we are willing to put forth the effort and be obedient! I also know our Heavenly Father loves us and answers our prayers, especially when we fast. I'm SO grateful to be able to labor in the Lords vineyard and try to help other people be happy. Thank you all for everything you do and have done for me, I hope you all have as good of a week as I had! Sorry for the super long email! 

 Weekly scripture: Alma 32:43: 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Elder Weston Bonny