CANADA Week 87-March 28, 2019

A chilly day in Ottawa.

Allo Allo. Time is short today, so I am just going to share a quick experience.

This week Abiodun and Gift were having some major life difficulties, but wanted to come to church. So we planned with them, and ended up going over to their apartment early in the morning to extract their car from about 6 inches of ice. Elder Fourie and I got at it with the snow shovels first, and used some rods to try and bust the ice. We didn't get much done. We used salt to melt it, and hot water to loosen it around the wheels and shoved branches under the wheels to give it some traction. We pushed and rocked the car with everything we had. 1 hour passed. 2 hours passed. 3 hours passed. Shovels were broken. We prayed to God and worked with the faith that He would magnify our efforts before we had to leave for church and their car would be freed. So we pushed and 3 minutes before we had to leave the car popped out and we were on our way. 

God wants us to succeed, but He also wants us to learn and grow. Big things are possible when we put in consistent effort and allow God to show forth His power in us.

Last thought:

Thomas S Monson shared some words from Alice in Wonderland, "That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn't really matter which path you take." He continues, "Unlike Alice, each of you knows where you want to go. It does matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life surely leads to the path we shall follow in the next. Choose carefully." (A time to choose)

Have a great week, and have fun!

Elder Wilson

A night with Elder Ritchie and Elder Newman.

Elder Fourie carries all of my stuff!

Adell is from Pakistan and has a Texan accent. He gave us dates to eat.

A new member of the church just gave birth to this little guy. His name is Praise.

Preaching with a cat.

Elder Fourie doing weird Australian things.

CANADA Week 86-March 19, 2019

Mitch & Hayden.

Salut!

This was a pretty sweet week! The sun is coming out, and people are happy haha. I have realized how used to freezing I have become during this winter. I am sweating out here in 0 degrees...

Yesterday Elder Fourie and I had a decision to make. It was late afternoon, and our time for the day was running short. We had people to see, but a friend named Mitch that is preparing for baptism literally disappeared about 2 days ago. He missed church and we couldn't get in touch with him. So we weren't sure if we needed to go visit him or not. We prayed and felt clearly that we should go. His apartment is downtown Montreal with no parking, and it was a rich section of the town, so all the doors were pass code protected... So we used our Hazard lights and left our car by faith on the side of the road and ran up to the door. We didn't even know what apartment he was, but we prayed again, and felt like we would be able to get in. So we waited. 10 seconds later a lady on her phone walks in, we snag the door before it shuts and sneak into this super nice building. We go up the elevator to try and find him, and at that moment his friend Ben calls us. It turns out that they had both gone to Nova Scotia for the weekend together haha. So as we are heading back out of the building we are happy but a little confused as to why we had to go there. As we got out of the elevator we talked with a woman who had been seeking the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and was pumped to receive the Book of Mormon. Then her husband came down, and we taught him too. God prompted us to do things, and even though we thought we understood why, He had a greater plan. We just needed to be obedient.

I know that God loves us and guides us, and expects our daily obedience to His commandments. I know as well that He promises blessings and support in all things. Let our eyes be single to His glory.

Love you

Elder Wilson

Elder Rossi finished strong!!

The end of the district.

Sister Phillips makes sweet cakes!

Olamilekan just after having received the priesthood!!

The spiciest food I have ever eaten . . . we were dying!

Elder Fourie.

CANADA Week 84-March 5, 2019

Coolest guy ever. He was looking for the church of Christ and found it.

It feels like spring here in Montreal!  think we are just getting too used to the cold, but the sun has been out and people have been happy. We also went back up to Quebec this week and saw the contrast. Literally the snow in front of houses is 10 feet tall and goes all the way up to their roofs haha. I love it.

A sweet experience this week that broadened my perspective:

We were teaching Berthier who just got baptized and his friend Danny. We get there, and they had literally been praying for HOURS to prepare themselves for our visit. We sat down on the ground with them and shared the plan of salvation. Danny was listening so intently that he received revelation and understood what we shared and was begging for more. He is 60 years old, and was one of the most humble men I have ever met. I understood in that moment that the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who are humble like children and seek after knowledge. If we seek, God is happy to answer. Nephi testifies of this truth when he explains to his brothers:

"Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."

I got to exchange with Elder Tarati and Elder Rossi and Elder Cortez this week. It was a blast of previous companions, and we saw miracles. They are still as crazy as ever haha.

I love being here, and Elda Smith is the coolest. That is how all the Nigerian peoples here say Elder. God is good, and He wants you to be happy. So lets do it👍

Eating Egusi soup.

Ukrainian dinner with the best!

CANADA Week 83-February 26, 2019

A chilly night with Elder Torres.

The Book of Mormon is the most powerful tool we have as missionaries, as well as the Spirit, to touch the hearts of others and prepare them to come unto Christ.

This week a sweet Benghali man we have been teaching had the worst head pain of his entire life. He said he thought he had a brain tumor. He was in agony for hours, and in desperation he saw the Book of Mormon. He said to himself, "The missionaries have promised me peace if I read the Book of Mormon." He offered a prayer to God and touched the Book of Mormon. After 30 minutes he was peaceful and fell asleep. When he woke up he felt wonderful, and had gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon.

This may not seem like a satisfying answer to everyone, but it was for him because he had been reading it every single day, coming to church on Sunday, and praying to God every day for an answer. If we are earnestly seeking, not only will God answer our prayers, but we will be more receptive to what He has to share with us. Moroni says it best, "I would commend you to seek this Jesus..." (Ether 12:41)

This week I have come to more fully appreciate the phrase, "Be clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord". I have felt the clear flow of answers from God as I have repented and strived to follow the example of Jesus Christ. 

Also, I have been motivated to better use YouTube from now on haha. We walked into Joji's house, he works at a Laundromat, and he was calmy replacing the clutch and transmission of his car. All because of Eric the car man and his YouTube station haha.

Have a great day, and we love you! Its been pretty warm in Montreal, but we still have like 3 months of winter :)

Elder Wilson

My wonderful bed.

CANADA Week 81-February 12, 2019

Hello le Monde!

I was just reading a quick thought from Gordon B Hinckley (modern day prophet). He was asked what is the symbol of his religion. He responded saying that the lives of the people are the only meaningful expression of our faith. He went on to say that, "As His (Jesus Christ's) followers we cannot do a mean or shoddy or ungracious thing without tarnishing His image. Nor can we do a good and gracious and generous act without burnishing more brightly the symbol of Him whose name we have taken upon ourselves." How are we representing Jesus Christ with our actions? Can others see Him in us?

This week we met some incredible people. We had an awesome experience with a Nigerian family we have been teaching as well. We had invited them to read a certain section of the Restoration pamphlet, and we asked them to pray to know if the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. The next day we asked the father if he knew if Joseph Smith was called as a prophet. Before he could answer, his little daughter named Joy raised her hand to speak. She is 5, and was playing with an iPad, so we didn't think she was listening. She said, "I know the answer. He is a prophet." She then continued to play her game. Eventually we learned that she had prayed and received her personal answer, as had 2 young brothers in the family. I know that if we ask, God is willing to speak. It doesn't matter our age or our experience. He wants us to know and act according to the truth. He wants us to be happy.

Joji was baptized by water and by the spirit this week. He was washed clean of his past sins and given the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide him through his current life. He came up out of the waters of baptism beaming, because he had prepared himself to follow Jesus Christ.

Elder Smith is a great missionary, and he is from Colorado. It has been fun and enlightening to serve with him. 

Remember Jesus Christ in all that you do this week. He makes us joyful in the most trying of circumstances. I love you.

Elder Wilson

Joji's baptism.

Joji's mama and a member.

Sister Phillips made us some cookies for Valentines day (treat Crash well for his birthday) and I had to ruin it and take all the frosting off...

Elder Smith and I tried out some soup dumplings. We couldn't figure out how to eat them right haha.

Joji got us this poster and said it is like baptism haha.

CANADA Week 80-February 5, 2018

Bonjour a todos

I have been trying to get back into an English mindset in this area, but it has been a struggle haha. The area is called Montréal East, and so a part of my old area is actually in it. I am now just on the English side of things. I am with Elder Smith, and he is the greatest. I have a lot to learn from him, and we are excited to do the work of our Father and enjoy in the miracles He showers on us. We have already seen many.

I have never been in a place or congregation as ethnically diverse as this part of Montréal. It is the most incredible thing to meet people from around the world and understand their culture as well as how they came to be here. We have also heard some mind blowing conversion stories of how people came to accept and follow Christ, and the joy they have found in doing so. 

Today as I thought about what I needed to share with you, a memory came of a young man from the Ivory Coast. We were showing him a picture of Jesus Christ and he recognized Him as our Savior. We asked him, "Who is Jesus Christ?" He responded quickly, "He is like superman.... but invincible." It was great to see the innocent faith of this young boy, and I know like he does that Jesus is our personal Savior and Redeemer. He loves us and He knows each one of you perfectly.

In 1 Nephi 22:25 we are taught that,

"And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture."

I know that through Jesus Christ we may find pasture and have eternal peace and happiness. There is no unforeseen difficulty or returning sin that can separate us from His love. I invite you to seek Him by reading the scriptures with real intent and earnestly praying. His arms are stretched out to you, and you will find Him. 

I love you!

Elder Wilson