Zone Conference Ft. Elder Keetch

So the highlight of this week was having Zone conference in the Peg with two other zones. I don't think I've seen so many missionaries in one place before so that was fun :) I also got to witness half of "the Fleet" I wish I got a picture of it but it's quite the sight to see 40 cars and knowing they were all missionary vehicles. 

So some of the highlights of the highlight were this. Elder Keetch has only been a member of the seventy for about a year but he had quite the experience when he got called. So this is throwing it back to his mission but on his mission he served in Germany. In his mission he described it as being similar to our mission in that there's not a lot of people who are interested in the gospel. So long story short he never put the white pants on and got wet. But, he did have one baptism in his companionship. He struggled with feeling like he was successful on his mission. He told us it didn't help that his second son to go on a mission within the first 6 weeks of getting there he had about 10 baptisms. But, when he sat down up on the stand right after being called and sustained Elder Anderson changed his whole perspective. Elder Anderson told a story about a couple who lived in Germany who the husband wanted to go back to his roots after joining the church. So he and his wife along with another couple went back to the Ivory coast and started a sunday school there. Now the Ivory coast has many stakes and is flourishing with the church. All because Elder Keetch and his companion felt prompted to invite him to be baptized. That put his mission into perspective :) 

Finally we were able to have exchanges with the zone lords down in I-Falls. That was a lot of fun :) Elder Tippets back from my time in North Battleford is now one of my zone leaders but, instead of going with him I went with Elder Griffin. That was a lot of fun. Even though it was raining for a decent part of the day we were able to be pretty positive and get a lot of things done.

So because my internet decided to be done I'm going to be done. Hopefully it'll start working again soon so I can tell you more about zone conference but this is all for now 

Thank you for all that y'all do and I hope you have a great week :) Potatoes gonna potate

*later*

One of the things that really spoke to me was when Elder Keetch compared missionary work to having a life boat and cold weather rescue. The life boat one he desctribed it as everyone is in the water trying not to drown and we have a life boat that we're trying to go and pick everyone out of the water. There would be things said like "oh thank you for saving me! thank you so much" Now this analogy just didn't make sense to me because we're out knocking on peoples doors for days and people are like "No thank you I like the water it's comfortable" or "I don't like the designer of your life boat" Stuff like that. So Elder Keetch then gave us the analogy of cold rescue where people are up backpacking an an unexpected storm comes around. So the rescuers have to hike about a day to find these people and by the time that they get to them they're already numb and feel abandoned so they're to the point of not wanting to be rescued. So he told us that in the first thirty minutes of talking to them they have to 1.build trust 2.give them responsibility 3.give them warm nourishment. Now that spoke to me because that's how it feels like when I'm trying to share the gospel with the people up here and honestly probably because -40 degree weather just sucks

Pictures 

I can't remember if I sent this or not but, one of the perks of serving in the Falls area  is being the only missionaries in the mission to ride a private boat :)

Here's the first time all three of us have been together. Elder Lee and his two sons

 

HUMP WEEK RECAP REVOLVED

So honestly other than this being the busiest week in my mission as for lessons per hour it was a pretty dull hump week.. :) But, I'm super psyched that I made it a year and didn't die ;) Sadly I did not get to burn my shirt yet but it's in the works. Pretty much the highlight of my Hump Day was I cooked up a mean steak with some sauteed onions and corn on the cob. It was a most delicious meal :)

I'm sorry that this is going to be so short but a combination of not having time and not doing an overly amount of interesting things this week I'm sad to say that this is it. So to fill in some space and make it like I actually wrote something I'm going to share one of my favorite chapters out of the bible. 

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up   5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil  6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth  7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13)

For those of you who read through all of that you're obviously great scriptorians so I'll ask you a question that has been consuming me for a bit. Why is it in the story of the Creation in Genesis, Moses, and Abraham that it's written that they have a morning and even and such/ days even before there was the sun moon and stars? I might be overthinking a simple question that a member asked me but I would love thoughts on it

Potatoes gonna potate. Love youz

HUMP DAYYY!!!

So first of all I'm wishing myself a happy Hump day in a few days :) Self, Happy Hump day in a few days. I can't believe it's already been a year. It's been a great one and I'm sure this next year has a lot in store.

So now for the news that everyone has been waiting for (namely my parents (sorry you had to wait till the mass email)) I survived driving for days to my new area. It clocked in in about 13 hours from North Battleford to the Falls. It began with an hour and a half drive to the S'toon and then an eternety to Regina or at least it felt that way. It was probably just 3 hours. Then early the next morning (5:30) we were off to the Peg. We made it to Brandon in about 3 hours where we dropped some people off and picked some people up. Then another 3 hours to Winnepeg. After finding my companion there we waited for the sisters to help us get to our area. Whitewashing is not fun for finding your way around. But, they finally got done moving stuff around and we were off. Before we knew it we were across the border :D WHOOOOO!! I've got some pictures of that :) But, in no time (JK 4 hours) we were in I-Falls Minnesota. I've been here ever since and I am loving being back in America :) I'm going to go shopping after this and I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it even more. 

So I have got to say this. There has been some wild stuff that's happened in this branch. Pretty much none of it is good either. So over my time here there will probably be some things that I would like to say but can't because it's pretty testy out here. The branch pretty much fell into pieces because of it and as the Branch President said they like telling the dish (gossiping). So yeah it's a good one ;) But, honestly I'm pretty excited for it. The Branch was excited to have Elders again because the Branch president was basically blessing and passing the sacrament. So it's all good in the hood :) Also it's a town about the size of the Dirty Ville so I'm pretty psyched for that. It'll be nice being outlying still :) 

Other than that Potatoes gonna potate (forreal in this town) and I hope you all have a great week

Mah Boi from the Battlefords

 A little story as well that I forgot to put in the mass email. So a funny thing that happened with the "missionary hater" in the branch back in the Battlefords was I was giving my last spiritual thought at a members house and she dropped by to give them some veggies. I went and answered the door not knowing it was her and was a bit surprised to see her there. So I got the veggies for them and I invited her to come in for the spiritual thought and she responds by saying "I'm too spiritual for a spiritual thought" and she left. I was seriously debating if that should be the last time I saw her, It would be quite appropriate, but I decided against it. So I went over there and talked with her and her husband for a few minutes and mentioned that I had considered having that as a last memory. Which she said it would be quite appropriate as well :'D but it's not and I had a good goodbye with them :) It all works out in the end

*Who was the "mah boi" in the picture? Can you tell me more about him? The one with the Warriors shirt on.*

That's Miles. He's the Elvis impersonator. The first investigator that I found in the Battlefords. For the transfer with Elder Peterson we never really got around to talking to him because he wasn't progressing all that much. In that time he also moved so that was tough. But, we were tracting and found him again which made me super happy :) He was honestly more of a friend than an investigator but we still taught him a bit of stuff. He's great :) If there was any baptism that I would try and travel across the mission for it would be him. 

TRANSFERS

So the time has come. My stay in the Battlefords is over. I am not breaking any records set by my grandpa (Elder Martens) here. But, I'm pretty psyched to be in my home country again. I'm proud to be a 'Murican :) It's a good time to be going down there so I can root for the US Olympic team :) But, The area I'm moving to is called I-Falls. I'm whitewashing it with Elder B. Moore so that should be fun :) Overall it's sounds like quite the new experience :) 

But, it brings me to a reason why I'm sad I'm leaving. Just this week we moved into a new apartment. It was my dream apartment and I'm leaving it... :'( But, life goes on. But it all happened this last Saturday and the old apartment was left barren. It's honestly kindof odd but this new apartment will serve the Elders well. The only thing that would make it a dream apartment even more is AC and a second washroom. But, if that were the case the APs might as well be living in it ;) 

Another fun thing that happened this week was I got to go on exchanges with Elder Lee. It was so good to catch up with him and just have a most excellent exchange :) To begin it we went and visited a recent convert and taught him and his brother the Plan of Salvation. In the lesson his brother accepted the commitment to be baptized and we set a baptismal date with him. It was great :) For those of you who remember from a few weeks ago this recent convert was actually the guy who came out and visited us in the Battlefords. He is a big indian :) 

The next thing we did was go tracting in the rain :) Whoooo.. A bit of backstory to the area. We were tracting in the Alphabets or avenues with the names of A ave, B ave, down to around U ave. Anyways these are known as the Hood of Saskatoon. So we were talking to this guy and suddenly a tall guy walks up behind us in a polo shirt and starts asking the guy if he knows where someone is. The guy we were talking to was like "he's not living here anymore" Before we knew it the guy whipped out his wallet and displayed a RCMP badge. Elder Lee and I looked at eachother and was like "WHAT?!?" Not a few seconds later the guy was squawking about the place the guy was living with directions and details. It was crazy seeing a police officer in action like that. Overall I rate the exchange a 5 out of 5 it was truly a masterpiece :)

That's all I got for now but by the time I email again I'll be in my home country :) 

Potatoes gonna potate till then
love youz

*more info from my email*

So Now for the big news. As you could guess I'm getting transferred out of the Battlefords :) But, I'm getting transferred to an area that was previously a sister area which means I'm going to be whitewashing it. I'm going there with an Elder Moore but we've got like three Elder Moore's in the area so he's Elder B. Moore. He trained Elder Blommaert so that should be fun to talk to him about my MTC comp :) The area is called I-Falls or International Falls Minnesota. So I am going way south after being in one of the northernmost areas. It's a crazy change but it should be good. 

The week of Crazyness

So I've got to begin this with you've got to be careful for what you wish for... If you'll recall with me what I said last week " I wouldn't mind having to call the cops again or something if I knew it didn't mean something serious had happened" Whoops... Bad wish. I'm also going to pull an excerpt from my moms letter because I enjoyed how the story went in there but we will find that I did not call the cops but I still had a run in with them. 

[To preface this story, I am including an excerpt from my email last week:  "So I should probably let you know about this stuff. I talked to president recently about trying to do better about waking up on time and there was a few things that he was saying I might need to talk to the mission nurse about. One of those being my right ear being clogged up every morning and then recently having me go deaf in it for about thirty minutes. Another thing is I've been getting a bit sick from the mornings that I do stay awake the entire morning. So Sister Gorham directed me to go to a walk in clinic in town to see if I can get blood work done to see if my iron levels are good or something. So wish me luck and guess what? One way or another I'm getting my asthma prescription refilled :D"]

"So I had my first experience realizing how expensive doctor visits are.... Especially if you're not a citizen and have literally no insurance. Definitely going to look into getting a job with good benefits including insurance. So I got my ears washed out and went to go get some blood work. The doctor gave me some antibacterial stuff for my ears so that's fun. The worst part about that specific thing is I got my asthma prescription and that at the same time and they both cost like 40 bucks! One thing is supposed to last me 7 days and the other like a month or so IDK but they're both about the same price.. I have no idea why... Anywho so hopefully the ear stuff gets covered by the mission insurance I don't think the preexisting conditions gets covered by it. Going on to the blood work.

 This one is a real doozy.. I get to the place where the doctor told me to go and they were like "we can't do this for you cause you ain't a Canuck" So they told me to go to the hospital...... I get to the hospital and I walk up to the front desk and was like "Here you go" and handed them the paper. The lady asked me a few things and then asked me if I knew how much it would cost. I was thinking close to 160 $ because thats what the financial secretary told me. But she goes and checks and comes back and told me it would cost 500$ 0_o I had only drew out 200 bucks from my debit card (hopefully I can get some of that back on to it because thats the fund I used for the prescriptions) so I'm like "Yep nope I can't do that" So I call the financial secretary again and she told me that the mission could foot the bill and just call the hospital. So I go back and tell the front desk lady that and I get happily on my way.

 BTW partway through that I left right after they told me that it was going to be 500 bucks so I could go cry on the side of the road and call the financial secretary. On my way out of the parking lot I didn't see this car coming because there were cars blocking my view so I inched a little bit too far out and they stopped and honked the heck out of me right as a Mounty (police) drove by O_O (Thinking to myself "oh shoot...") So I stop for a little bit and then continue driving and sure enough he made a u-turn and flipped on his lights. Now I'm really thinking "Oh Shoot" So I pull over to the side and try to act calm but it obviously wasn't working because he told me right away that I seemed nervous. So he just ran my drivers license and let me on my way :D It was a pleasurable first experience running in with the law but honestly I shouldn't have wished too hard for an experience with the police last week because that is what you get. 

 So I go on and go back to get my blood work done. I'm now just waiting for that to be completed and to go back and see what's up if there is anything up."

[Also, he said in my email this week that there was so much wax in his ears it was insane.]

So that was only the beginning of the week. Halfway through the week we suddenly became a tripan for a few days with this Elder on his way to a mission down in the states. He's waiting for his visa but I'm glad we were able to have a few fun experiences with him :) One of those wasn't so fun because we had a run in with this guy who was vulgar beyond reason. It was sick how vulgar he was and a lot of it was probably because he was wasted. But, we challenged him to go a week with out drinking, smoking and other things and to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon each day so we'll see what happens. It was actually Elder Peterson's idea to challenge him to that so I'm super glad he came along with us those few days :) 

The next night we were able to go to this "Tent Meeting" Put on by The Living Waters Ministry. One of our investigators invited us to it about a month ago so I'm glad that we remembered to go to it. But, from what he was telling us it would be like I was expecting something entirely different. When we got there we just heard this drumming, guitarring and singing and we were like "oh boy it's basically a christian concert. We later found out it was a little bit more than that but there was a decent amount of "worship music". I felt bad for Elder Peterson because he had a pretty intense migraine at the time and Filipinos basically screaming "gospel music" was not good on him. He was glad he got to take part in some interesting stories though :) There was some good conversion stories that were shared there that night as well which was nice to hear. We had a bit of a biased opinion because we do conversion differently than what we were hearing but it was nice. I think the highlight of the night was we got a shout out by the Pastor who was over the whole event which was weird. Especially since the last time he talked to us he attacked what he thought was our belief system so that was fun :) Overall 4 out of 5 would not go again as a missionary.  

I think that's all I got for stories right now but I'll be careful for what I wish for next time :) Potatoes gonna potate. Love youz

Elder Wilson, Elder Petersen, Elder Mikesell