CANADA Week 79-January 29, 2019

My man Tito.

Hola a todos!

We had a fun experience today haha. We were pulling through an intersection, and our truck died... So we tried to push it, but it was like -35 today, so the wheels got stuck. We ended up getting it pushed over because God sent a nice man to help us out, but in the process of pushing our car I got some frostbitten fingers haha. But we got everything figured out and my fingers work well enough to type. I love this place.

And even though I do love Quebec, I am leaving Thursday. I got sent back to Montreal, and I am excited to meet the people there. Sadly I will be serving in English, so I am going to have to learn how to speak it again. There are supposedly a bunch of Nigerian people there, and I can't wait to get to know their culture. I will be serving with Elder Smith.

This week I have solidified my understanding and become a witness of certain simple principles of the Gospel. Jesus Christ teaches, "Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name" (3 Nephi 18:23). And again from the prophet Alma, "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good..." (Alma 37:37). I testify that the Lord wants to hear us, and as we engage in the work of prayer, we will discover and accomplish His will. 

We tested this promise this week as we prepared for Church. Elder Rossi and I had set goals for our time together, and we had worked hard to achieve them. Although we worked, we were still going to fall short, so we asked God directly for His help. And He responded by sending 3 people to church this Sunday that had never met with missionaries before, but had been prepared in different ways. One of them had even found the Book of Mormon in a supermarket a few months ago, and had been convinced of its truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. God can accomplish his work.

Have an awesome week!

Said goodbye to Rafa and he didn't want to let go of his Libro de Mormon haha.

Soeur Paquette

This is the start of frostbitten hands.

The last District council.

We helped some people move yesterday and this was in their freezer. #IvoryCoast

Our ward mission leader Frere Laval.

This dude invited us out for some surprise sushi. It was solid.

The squad for a last Family Home evening.

Pierre Yves and Armand.

CANADA Week 78-January 22, 2019

Assi Calixte Assi, this man is incredible!

Hola!

I wish I could tell you everything that happened this week, because it was so much fun. When we are in the service of our neighbors we are serving our God, and I felt that this week as we pushed sweet old people and their cars out of the snow, shoveled a bunch, and represented Jesus Christ. 

I read a chapter this week that taught me about what it really means to love others, and these verses stuck out to me. in 1 John 5:2-3  it says: 

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." 

It humbles me to think that John, who gave his entire life to keep the commandments of God, testified that they are not burdensome. 

I know that as we live the commandments of God, our path is smoothed before us, and we are comforted by the light and grace of Christ. He has given us a simple path, and it is good. I love my Savior, and I know that as we trust in Him, he will support us, and allow us to succeed. Remember to put your energy in the right places, and all will go well. 

I love you! Elder Rossi loves you too!

Elder Wilson

Also, it was -40 degrees this week, so enjoy your warmth haha.

The bests chicken I have ever eaten.

Snow banks are pretty comfortable.

Our church got snowed in and cancelled this week.

Elder Rossi wanted to be brave and ran outside without a jacket . . . As you can see it wasn't the best decision, and he literally went into shock haha. I love him.

CANADA Week 77-January 15, 2019

Elder Rossi and I explored a frozen lake today on the way back from Chicoutimi.

Hola la familia

This week I feel like I have come to know Quebec even more, and my love for this place and the people continues to grow. We were blessed with a surprise trip up to Alma and Chicoutimi, and we had some incredible experiences.

Also, Sophianne started on the covenant path by being baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She is incredible, and it was clear to us that God had given her life experiences to prepare her to follow Jesus Christ. She invited her family, and it was incredible to see her testify of the joy she felt during her baptism. The Spirit of God testified to all of us of the goodness of the choice she had made. Tears came to her parents eyes as they felt and watched.

I know that we are blessed and happy as we righteously act and follow the commandments of God. He has shown me time and time again that He respects His promises, and that He is aware of us. For us to succeed in this life, all He has asked us to do is respect His commandments.

22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you. (Mosiah 2:22)

Remember how simple this life is, and enjoy it. It is a gift from God. I love you!

Elder Wilson

Sophianne's baptism. The Bishop is so tall.

Digging our friend Zack out of the snow so we could go eat with him and the famille Portillo.

Elder Hall is like my mama, and he can't not make large amounts of food haha. He is the greatest. Elder Kolste has such a clear desire to do the will of The Lord.

This car will never leave.

CANADA Week 76-January 8, 2019

Eating arrepas with a Venezuelan family (me getting big ;))

Quick story:

We are teaching a young Haitian mom, and her daughter and son. Yesterday we met her at the church, and we were in a rush because we had some more people who needed Christ, but we took a moment to calm down and invite the Spirit to be with us. We started seeing how she was doing, and we were happy to see that she had read in the Book of Mormon. And like all people who honestly read the Book of Mormon and seek to know of its truth, she had felt something she had never felt before while reading it. As she explained this feeling, she felt it again. We were able to share with her that this feeling is the Holy Spirit. All of our hearts were touched as we bore simple testimonies of our experiences with God and His Restored Church, and we promised her the blessing of having this Spirit with her for her entire life, as she made the decision to be baptized and take upon herself the name of Christ. God knew that that is what she needed, and I love the fact that God watches over us. 

Have a great week!

Look at how little Elder James is haha. I love him

We had to make an emergency trip to Rimouski, and it was beautiful.

Elder Rossi getting big.

Elder Petit made the smallest burrito i have ever seen.

CANADA Week 75-January 2, 2019

Went too hard at soccer.

Hola le monde! We hope you had an awesome Holiday season, and are pumped for 2019. You know it is January in Quebec when 2 things happen:

1. Your nose hairs freeze every time you breathe in

2. When you get into your car that has been outside all night the mist of your breath becomes miniature slow flurries

Haha I literally love Quebec and the people here so much!

We had many experiences this week, ranging from pulling the door of our fridge off by accident to getting back into shape from pushing so many cars out of the snow, but from my experiences again this week, I am a witness of the goodness and love of God. He is aware of us, and yearns to bless us according to our faith and obedience. 

I was recently reading in John 16:13 which says, " . . . When He, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth . . . " As we start this new year I invite you to open yourself to the Holy Spirit of God through prayer and study, and He will guide you through the darkest of experiences, and help you to love. 

I love you all!

Frere Torres with some German stuff. That's for you Elder Howell.

The Beast(s).

Blessings of exchanges.

Welcome to Quebec, where nobody can even leave their parking spot.

CANADA Week 74-December 26, 2018

The Bills made us some of our favorite meals.

Hola la familia! It's always crazy how time passes during our calls, but it was a blast talking with you even though I couldn't really hear haha. African houses can get a little noisy, but they loved talking with you. I hope you had a great Christmas and are pumped for New Years. 

Time is short today, just like always haha. It was boxing day, which is like Black Friday,  and things got busy. But Jesus Christ magnifies all of our efforts, whether they be good or bad. Even when  you accidentally call wrong people like I literally just did as I am writing, it works out, and he needed a call anyways. Through Christ all things are possible, and he wants us to know it. Trust in Him, and make goals and plans for next year to accomplish your vision. Love you all!

Elder Wilson

Master regifters back at it for the 2nd Christmas haha.

An awesome man who finds happiness in the most difficult of circumstances.

Les lunettes

A sweet lady painted this picture of us and gave it to me.