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

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Week 62, 12/6/16



Tracting out by Lake Wabamum with E. Nelson

Yeah, it was -27 yesterday with windchill, and it isn't supposed to get any warmer any time soon:)  We have basically nothing to do other than try to FIND people to teach.  Lets just say I am very grateful we have a car to drive and a bunch of cold gear to bundle up in.... and it also would be accurate to say that despite having all those things I will still be fetching cold:)  Not a whole lot to report on as far as the work here in River Valley, we mostly tracted, and tried contacting potentials, former investigators, and less actives unsuccessfully.


Here are a few highlights from the week though:  Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Nelson out to a town 30 minutes west of Edmonton called Stony Plain.  President specifically asked us to do an exchange with this companionship as soon as we could because they were struggling with each other so it was kind of spur of the moment, but it was awesome!  We tracted a bunch and like 8 people answered their doors the whole day.  We got to go out to a cool town by a lake and a native reserve to try and contact some people though. Native reserves are so sketchy...  


Thursday was pretty eventful as well.  It was the worldwide day of service, and we got a spontaneous opportunity to help a less active move, and we also gave blood!!  I have never given blood before, so I wasnt sure what to expect.  Everything was totally fine until the blood actually started flowing out... I started to feel pretty weak, dizzy, short of breath, light-headed, faint, you name it haha.  My body was telling me that it was absolutely not okay with me giving away its blood, not one bit.  I guess you could say my body "couldn't eve.  Yeah my body is pretty selfish.  After a little bit some nurses noticed I was totally about to pass out and they rushed over and took the neetle out and leaned my chair back and gave me a couple wet towels to cool me down, and they gave me a juicebox to drink as well. For like 10 minutes after that my body was shaking and for some reason I was super giggly haha.  It was fetching weird.  But after a while I felt okay and I got more juiceboxes and cookies to rejuvenate my body, my spirit could not be rejuvenated though because I was totally the loser who couldn't even finish his blood donation😒. I almost filled my full pint bag, but not quite all the way.  Hopefully that blood helps someone somewhere. 



Saturday I went on exchanges with a Mandarin speaking elder who is struggling.  He covers a super busy part of the city and we had nothing to do most the day other than FINDing.  We did go to this ping pong activity all the Mandarin elders do and I got to play pool with some Asians, that was fun.  We talked to SO many people while we were walking around the University of Alberta campus, but nobody was interested.  I feel like I was able to help this elder out a bit which was my main goal so it was a great exchange:) 

Later today Elder Klunker and I get to take the greenies who are probably flying here as I am writing this email out street contacting!! We are super excited! We both remember when we were the brand-spankin new missionaries who were scared out the wazoo when went street contacting our first day like it was just last week.  It is currently -32 outside with windchill right now... It should be fun!  There really hasn't been much happening in the past few weeks and I am working harder than I have my whole mission.  Sometimes I wonder why we can't find anyone who God is preparing, but I know this will all be for my benefit, and if we can continue to have faith, work our hardest, be obedient, and love others then we will be pleased with our efforts and we will feel successful:)  Love you all!  
Morning after giving blood workout

Weekly Scripture: Ether 12:18 18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God. 

                                            Driving around the native reserve.  Yeah, I drive fast!