CANADA Week 53-July 31, 2018

The good life with Elder Smith. He is like a professional artist too.

Ok so I actually just wanted to ask some questions that come from Alma 5 and some of my own. It would be awesome if you could really think about them and WRITE your answers in your journals.

What have you done this week to show that you are grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ?

Have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance your fathers (ex. the scriptures and your own spiritual experiences) ?

Can you imagine to yourselves that you hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

What can you do to become more like Christ today?

I don't have much time, but I want you all to know that I carry the name of Christ every day because I love Him and I love you. There is nobody who wants you to succeed more than Christ, and His arms are open to you and everyone else.

I had many changing experiences this week, but they can be summed up in a few words from my momma. "To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves."

Love yall!

The Idaho squad! Yes this is Elder Tueller from my High School. He pretty much taught me how to be a missionary, and this is our friend Marly.

Squirrels are everywhere, and this one chose a super tiny tree haha. We tried to tame him.

CANADA Week 52-July 24, 2018

Another action packed day with Elder Alejo!

Elder James came up with a solid idea this week to read the same General Conference talk every day, and then discuss it afterward as we prepare for President Nelson. He will be here the 18th of August! In one talk, Elder Taylor G. Godoy reminded us that every day is an opportunity, and a gift from God. He extended the invitation to:

"Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. … Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. … Speak your love and then speak it again."

When we remember that we are all children of God, and that God has placed us here for a reason, we will naturally feel the desire to help and love others. Remember to laugh, and remember what God has already given you. Like Christ has said, 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"

During the course of my mission, and many times this week, I have seen the hand of The Lord and felt his love. Whether it be with pizza miracles or answered prayers, He wants us to know that He is there for us. We just need to remember Him.

I didn't explain too much of my week, but it was fun, people are loving the gospel, and I met a little girl that was EXACTLY like Miss Perry here, and she blew my mind haha. I didn't think the world could handle 2 of them . . . 

Burger King with my man Elder Cabello. That was the first time at BK in like 17 years I think...

Elder James and I at Oliver's baptism! His mom cooked some pizzas but not enough, so we had to do some surgery to save them in time. Mission success!

You can't really see, but this a sweet lady we have been teaching. Jessica has been paralyzed for a few years, but is SO positive it blows my mind. She has been reading the book of Mormon on her computer, and she has some legit glasses that control the laptop's pointer. She is also a genius. Oh and her mom is a Haitian chef, so she always makes us something REALLY good when we are there.

Elder (almost) Jhonel looking slick with his bag. He spent the ENTIRE Saturday with us. He's doing fine with the Lord!

Welcome to Canada... My mission president always says there are 2 seasons. Winter and construction.

We made a candle out of sausage and bacon grease. It worked wonderfully haha.

CANANDA Week 51-July 17, 2018

I found Crash's sister! Her name is Princess! It felt super good to pet a Boston again!

The hand of the Lord has been rather clear this week as Elder James and I have been working hard to help and serve the incredible people in our area. One of the most comforting phrases in the story of Nephi the Prophet is coming to life before our eyes. The Lord said, "Ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." He goes on to explain that we will know who He is, and that He has delivered us. One of the personality traits of the Savior is just that. He wants us to know that He leads us, and that He will help us. He shows to His people again and again and again that He loves them and He will deliver them. We say often that Christ is the head of His church, but He is also the head of our lives. How have you seen His hand today? Do you remember the times that you have seen His influence on your life before?

I was able to exchange with and learn from Elder Amichia this week, and it was a pretty incredible experience. He showed me the importance and necessity of not just enduring but enjoying. He is nearing the end of his time in Montréal, and he has such a strong desire to help the people here. He has allowed himself to change, and he loves helping the people here. He pointed out some things for me to work on as well, because I have a lot of changing to do as well haha.

We had an interesting experience this week. As many of you know, I have a VERY slight germophobia issue haha. I think God has loved putting me in situations to challenge that little problem, and this time was clearly one of them... We went to do a quick service for a super cute old Haitian man named Frere Charles. We get there, and literally the entire building smelt a little bit like death... So hesitantly we walk over to his apartment which has bug traps just outside, that had more bugs than traps haha. So we start the service, and there are bugs dropping from the ceiling and unknown substances everywhere, and I ended up wrecking my white shirt. But we moved his fridge and his very slippery and grimy stove, and I know 100 percent that I wouldn't have been able to touch that jazz without the constant help from God and my love for this little Haitian man. The Lord promised that He would try our faith, and I can testify that He keeps His promises.

We also can't get rid of maggots in our garbage which has been SUPER fun haha. I love my experiences. 

I love you all, and I am so grateful for your prayers and thoughts and wisdom. I will do my best to show the people of Montréal how awesome you are!

Elder Wilson

Elder James went hard making authentic Haitian food, and it was SO good! Elder Hall already loves Haitian culture!

One of the many bug traps chez Frere Charles.

I bleached and washed out the trash can and made a solid maggot soup haha. The bag had like thousands of them in it​.

Quebec-quoi mobile. These things are EVERYWHERE!

CANADA Week 50-July 10, 2018

Our car got robbed... But God protected us and they didn't take anything. EXCEPT they snapped my poor sunglasses.

Salut friends and fam!!

The start of transfers always get a little wild, and they are especially fun in a 4-man haha. Elder Webb (Brandon now) has officially finished, and Elder Amichia went from having one of the oldest companions in the mission to having a totally new companion named Elder Hall. So it has been fun to talk with Elder Hall and help him adjust to life as a missionary of Christ. He was shocked by the heat, but he already loves the people!

It was a little disappointing not seeing some American flags up for the 4th, or being deaf after all of the fireworks we set off at the Wiggins, but Elder James and I made the most of the day! Honestly I kind of forgot about it until Elder James started singing the national anthem haha.

One thing that has stuck out to me this week as I have reflected on the first 11ish months of my mission can be shown in an awesome quote from Brigham Young. He said "Our lives are made up of little, simple circumstances that amount to a great deal when they are brought together, and sum up the whole life of the man or woman." I can clearly see how many of the small decisions I have made here in Canada have influenced who I am, and where I am. God has a lot of faith in us, and every decision we make has the power of bringing us closer to him or leading us away. Sometimes it is necessary to just laugh and remember that He is cheering us on. He doesn't want us to feel lost, afraid, or hopeless. Au contraire He sacrificed His perfect son Jesus Christ so that we could have a light to follow. And someone to turn to. 

I love you and they love you, so remember that you are important to us! Speaking about God after the duration of this life a prophet said, " . . . He will receive you into his arms, and you will be ready to fall into his embrace and kiss Him."

Have an awesome week, and remember to look for His hands in your daily activities!

Elder Wilson

This picture was texted to us this week from someone who saw the elders out and about. So fun!

Haitian food is the real deal. With Odette and Frere Saint-Louis.

Bye Elder Webb.

Elder James selflessly digging through maggot-infested trash to find some receipts we needed.

CANADA Week 49-July 3, 2018

Elder Teikiutapu!!!!!!!

Hullo des gens

On a passé une semaine de chaleur haha, it is crazy how humid it can get here in Montréal! And all of the Haitian people here literally are loving it, and it has been fun to talk with all of them. 

There are quite a few changes coming about with the new transfer, but Elder James and I are not one of them! I am pumped to stay, and Elder James and I are ready to see and make some miracles. Elder Webb is finishing, so we were worried that the 4 man apartment was finished as well, but Elder Amichia is going to get a brand new companion and the 4 man survives! Haha it was a good surprise, and it will be fun to help another missionary get into the swing of mission life. 

There were also changes for lots of peoples in Quebec this week, because July 1st is like the moving holiday or something, because literally ALL of our friends changed apartments haha. It has been a test of patience and faith as we have been trying to relocate many of them, so wish us luck! 

I experienced a broad variety of events this week, but one of my favorites was with my friend Elder Tiekiutapu. He is from Tahiti (Like Elder Tarati!!!), and he is one of the most humble and powerful people I have ever met. He hasn't been on his mission very long, but he loves Canada and the people here. As we were planning before starting the day, I saw him listening attentively to the spirit, and then deciding who we would visit. It was incredible to see how he knew God, and relied on His help at all times throughout the day. There is something special about those Tahitians, and it is not JUST their strange food choices haha.

I have started to appreciate the power of perspective during my time here. If we know who we are, the important things in life become clear. President Nelson taught us that if someone needs help with a personal challenge, we just need to "teach them their identity and their purpose". And Elder Brian Taylor gave us this powerful promise in his address this last general conference, "As we follow the examples of the Savior and the Prophet Joseph in earnestly seeking God, we will come to understand in a very real way that our Father knows us by name, and that we are His children." We are children of God and "joint heirs" with Christ. I know that God loves every single one of us, and if we want to feel his love, all we need to do is ask Him. Nothing could ever separate us from that love.

I hope you all have an exciting week and meet some awesome people. I'll keep doing my best up here in Canada with my friends. I love you all!

Elder Wilson

Spent the day with the legend himself... Jhonel! He has now started his mission application!

The end of Elder Webb.

We did our studies in our church building, because our apartment is cookin, and our branch president gave us some snacks that were about to expire from the food storage... He is a stud!

Our tire got wrecked so we did an emergency repair job and only semi-trashed our white shirts...