Serving in the Canada Edmonton Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Friday, September 30, 2016

Week 51, 9/20/16


Hey everyone! This week was awesome:)  I'm sending out my email a bit earlier because a member is taking us to Elk Island National Park today!! It's kind of like a wildlife preserve 45 minutes east of Edmonton.  It's not Jasper or anything like that but it will be fun and we should see lots of crazy dope wild animals. I'll send pics later today.   


 We are having a good time dealing with the chaos of running 3 areas, having too many things to do is kind of a nice problem to have as a missionary.  Well Tuesday night was certainly a highlight.  We FINALLY met with zeke and his family again!  I don't know if any of you remember, but he's the 9 year old we had on date for baptism.  His family has had a bunch of crazy things to deal with over the past few months.  Their mom has to go out to their family farm that's like 45 minutes away literally every day to keep the animals alive, and sometimes they stay at the farm house for a couple weeks at a time and that's going to probably continue for a while, so his progression is kind of up in the air right now.  He definitely wants to be baptized as soon as he can though.  It was super good to see them again and teach them about the gospel, I missed them a bunch! 
Running 3 areas means having 3 phones

Wednesday was when the chaos began with us taking over all the sister's work.  We spent all morning taxiing other missionaries and their luggage around the city for transfers, but then after that we got right to work and went straight to weekly planning so we could get familiar with all the people the sisters were teaching.  Greenfield also had a ward party that night that we brought a couple investigators to.  We definitely had a lot of fun (I ate like 4 different plates of dessert... Nuff said), and we think they did too. It's always good to get people more comfortable with the social aspect of the church, it really goes a long way to have a friend. 

Thursday we were able to meet with one of the sisters' progressing investigators, Tracy. She is in her 20's and teaches at a Catholic school and has a cute 2 year old daughter, and she is totally open to seeking for additional truth!! Lots of people say that initially and then right when we bring up the Book of Mormon they shut us down because they are just so in love with the Bible, and also their misinterpretation of Rev. 22:18 plays a big part as well (I am honestly so sick of hearing about that verse hahaha).... Anyways though (sorry for the mini rant) it seems like Tracy is actually sincere.  She is already almost done with the Book of Mormon after only a few months of meeting with missionaries, and she's loving it. She just can never come to church for various reasons and doesn't see the need to be baptized again, so we will work on that:) We are super hopeful for her!  Pray for her to receive and recognize answers to prayer plz. 

Saturday we found a family! K the sisters found a family for us before they left and we went to the appointment they set up haha... Anyways their names are Henry, Regine, Silas, Shiloh, and Star.  Two parents and then 8, 5, and 2 years old from Uganda.  We got to know them a bit and taught them the Restoration, and the spirit was so strong, especially when we told taught about the first vision.  They are another one of those rock solid Christian families who LOVE the Bible and have a hard time accepting anything else as the word of God.  They seemed like they were willing to give the Book of Mormon a chance though:) Right when we were about to invite them to be baptized there was a knock on the door and this old couple walked in with some briefcases and the kids got super excited, and the lesson was basically shut down at that point :(    Apparently it was time for their Bible study.  We could tell the old couple felt weird about this family meeting with us, hopefully they didn't try to deter them from seeking the truth for themselves by reading from the Book of Mormon after we left.... We are kinda worried though.   

3 generations of missionaries.  From G'pa Payne to grandkid Sites, me in the middle.

Those are basically the only highlights from the week that are worth mentioning.  We meet with a bunch of less active people every week. Some are making progress, some aren't.  We will probably have to start meeting with them less so we will have time to do finding.  I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but our mission president is obsessed with finding.  Anne Marie is still doing okay, we weren't able to meet with her this week for various reasons.  One night was because we couldn't find a member to come with us (can't meet with her just the two of us) and she was definitely not happy to hear about us having rules like that, and ranted to us for like 30 minutes at her door about why it's super dumb how we get transferred a lot.... we are meeting with her on Wednesday and we are hoping she isn't quite as salty:)   

Well that's basically it for this week.  There were so many times this week, especially on Sunday throughout church meetings, where I could feel the Holy Ghost teaching me something new.  I really do know and testify that if we are trying are best to follow the Savior (putting words and desires to do so to action), and putting in real effort to come unto Him, we won't be ignored or forgotten, and we WILL feel the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives, and we will feel the Savior's grace (the enabling power of the Atonement) helping us along the way. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you:) it really works!!!! - 

Another Lamborghini tender mercy
With Love - Elder B.

James 4:8  Weekly scripture: Matthew 7:1-2 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.  2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  





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