Photo from Cardston

He (Elder Perucca) was here in place of Elder Call. Exchanges!

It was a joy to have him visiting from Pincher Creek.

We enjoyed pizza (which he said he had had for breakfast as well). This was totally homemade and I hope he enjoyed it. We also had peanut butter milkshakes. Yum! I know he enjoyed that.

Maurine Laing

Cardston Alberta

Temple trip, exchanges with zone leaders, and Burning of my shirt

So there has been a lot of stuff that happened this week! First the temple trip that we had!

We went over to the Carston area Thursday morning. It took about an hour to drive over to Carston from Pincher Creek. When we got to Carston, we had to wash our car for vehicle inspections and it was sweet because most of the people in Carston are members. So we got to do a couple things free. After we did that, we made our way straight to the Temple so that we can be there on time for the special meeting for missionaries. This was basically our zone conference for this transfer, The zones of Medicine Hat, BC, and Carston came to this meeting. It was pretty interesting to be all missionaries here in the Carston Temple. 

We learned in this special meeting about the covenants we make in the temple and how it is important for us to keep them. We broke down each one and talked about it.

The Carston Temple is beautiful! Not just the outside, but the inside as well! Your eyes just widen and you are just breathless when you walk in the Calgary Temple! If you ever get a chance to go to Carston, make sure Carston is one of your stops. It was also cool to go through the temple with all the missionaries. Just feeling that Spirit of Missionary work was awesome!

After being in the temple, we went to the Carston Book Store where we looked around for cool LDS material. It was pretty dang sweet to go there!

Our area is still doing pretty well. We haven't met any investigators quite yet since they are all busy or don't respond. We are trying to get to know the members more and also try to talk to people and get noticed out in the town. People know who we are now, they just don't know what we are all about. We need to use the members as much as possible so that we can figure out who is ready and who is not.

Anywho, this last Sunday we went to the Crownest Pass to give our talks. Mine was mostly on being an example as being a form of missionary work. I believe I did well. I took about 15 minutes while my companion took 30 minutes. My companion likes to talk and talk and probably could all day. I usually like to keep my talks simple and straight to the point so that I don't beat around the bush. It was funny though. There weren't that much people there when we went. The Branch President asked us to basically do everything. It was a pretty tiresome sacrament meeting. 

Also, during that church meeting, a new family who moved into the boundries asked us to do laundry for them. Now being innocent as missionaries are, of course we said yes, but we would try to get a member to do it. We told the Branch about it, and he thought it kinda odd and went to talk to the family about why they couldn't do their laundry. Turns out, this family has been moving ward to ward trying to get money and all the help they can get without trying by them-self to do anything. It was pretty troublesome to get in the middle of all that. But we were fine after we figured out certain things.

That same day was the day I burned my shirt. You will probably see it on my facebook. We did it at the Ludwigs home who are the WML family. They are sweet. The video is pretty self explanitory so go ahead and enjoy.

I recently got back from an exchange with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Madsen while Elder Koneitz went with Elder Call. Elder Madsen is going home at the end of this transfer and he and I just had a blast during our exchanges. It was funny because when I went to Carston with him, many of the members there said we look like brothers. Perhaps if you look at the picture of our entire group at the temple, you may see him and I are alike. He is a big kid he is three to the left of me. Anywho, we did cool stuff. Taught a less-active, went to two district meetings, went a little street contacting, and went to an institute class. We had some fun and it surprised me how much we had in common. He liked a lot of music I liked and also he liked certain hobbies I liked. It was a good exchange.

Now we are to right now which is basically me emailing you. Today we are probably going to go back to Pincher Creek after emailing and eat with members and then try to talk to people playing some basketball. Now it is time to answer your questions:

1. What do the people mainly do there for jobs here in Pincher Creek? 

There isn't too much here. From what I understand, there is a bank here, a couple of fast food places, and construction. Haven't really asked that of people here. I don't think people mine here too much. There is a mine in Crowsnest pass. Maybe people go there. I will have to ask around.

2. How am I feeling?  Am I healthy?

I am feeling quite well. My last transfer I did get a bit of headaches randomly, but they went away after a short while. Last I recorded my weight was 253 pounds. I believe that is 7 less than what I went out on. I think the reason I went down was because of all the walking we are doing here instead of driving which I don't mind. It is better than riding a bike I think. 

3. Are you getting along with your companion?  What are the things he does that you have learned from?

I am getting along with my companion quite well. He isn't my favorite companion, but he and I still enjoy each other. He is one of those hard workers who wants to just tract all day, but there have been things changed for him in this area. I have probably learned from him to speak up more. Now I am very picky about this though. I do not like companions where when we walk down a street or go tracting on a door that say, "Ok, your turn. I am not going to say anything." It doesn't help me to learn how to talk to people better nor does it motivate me to do so. I like to work together on someone.

4. Did you know my dad took his endowments out in Cardston Temple?

No I did not dad, but I bet you enjoyed the beauty of the temple when you did. :)

Well, that is all and all. You can probably see I uploaded a lot of pictures on facebook. I took a lot this week. Love you all and thank you so much for your support!

And the Year Mark has past and gone!

I am officially halfway through my mission!!! Holy wierdness! My year mark day was the longest day of my mission! It was that bad! I didn't know what to think when that day came. I think usually I thought back of my days in the MTC a year ago. The first district I had and how much fun we had. As well as me being all innocent and knowing nothing on how mission are and what to do. Now look where I am! I am over a year! 

The last week we mainly just talked to people. Still that law has only given us a few things to say to people. We can only do so much here. We just try to work with members. It is funny because my companion is so used to like finding by ourselves that he somewhat doesn't know what we do here. I have to show him a couple of things with working with members since that is what I find working the best here. We still haven't the whole ward yet because we have been quite busy with meetings and other activities. Remember, that we also have crowsnest pass ward as well. Speaking of which, we have to talk in the sacrament meeting both in Crowsnest pass and Pincher Creek wards. We first speak in the Crowsnest pass this Sunday and Pincher Creek next week. It takes a lot of time to write a talk. 

You know I have been thinking, and this is when I was on exchanges these past few days, of a couple of things. I have been called to serve as a mission to be me. Not to be my companion, not to be my friend, not to even be my bishop, but to be me. While you do change meaning you get more converted and more knowledge of the Gospel, I believe you should not change into an entirely new person. 

We have a Zone Conference this week and we are going to the Cardston Temple for a special session for missionaries. We are going to go inside the Cardston temple and that means I will have been in the two temples that are on our mission! Sweet Eh?! So excited!

Anywho, question time!

1. Why are the libraries closed in your area on Mondays?  Is it like this in other areas of Canada?

I am not sure the exact reason for this. This has only been the time where the libraries are closed on Monday. This is also new to me so again I am not sure.

2. When do you know about what will be your dinner appointments for the week?

We pass out our dinner calendar during church on Sunday. We usually look at it at the end of church and write down whoever signed up and call them the day before and ask them if it is still ok for dinner. 

3. Was Elder Olson (from AF) one of your previous companions or is this another Elder in your mission from AF?

He is another Elder from AF and I just knew him.

4. In this ward you and your companion are assigned to, do you teach any classes during the three hour block times or is that a responsibility for ward members?

We only do it if we are asked to. Sometimes members ask us to do so like last week where we taught the Gospel Principles class. 

5. Did you know that Kyle Baugh was the missionary that helped Andrei Tian bring his suitcases, etc. into the MTC this pastWednesday?  The Lord probably had a hand in that, didn't He?

I did hear about that and I thought it was pretty dang awesome that happened. I think God was in there big time for that and I bet both Kyle and Andrei enjoyed it when they did.

6. Did you know that we love you and constantly pray for you?

I have heard many people say to me that they are thinking about me and talking about me and praying for me. To those who share that with me, thank you so much. That is one of the huge motivations I have to be out here and it helps to know that there are people out there that care about me and want what is best for me. As you probably know when I was going through hard times during my 3rd transfer and feeling like I needed to come home, I felt good when others were telling me how good I was and how much they supported me and loved me. I have seen quite a bit of missionaries out here who go home because they don't feel that love. They feel their companion doesn't love them, they feel they let everyone down and they look badly on themselves. Love is very powerful and you don't want to overlook it. 

That is all I have to report this week! Hopefully I will get you the pictures of the temple and our district next week! Love you all!

Heyo! Ready to hit the year mark!

Hey ya'll! Sorry it took me forever to email you. The libraires are closed on Monday and we don't have district meeting till like Wednesday so I will be either emailing you on Tuesday or Wednesday from now on as long as I am in this area. Again sorry.

My companion and I are still getting used to this area and meeting everyone that the previous missionaries had in contact. We met a golden investigator that just wants to read the Book of Mormon to make sure this is the right path. He feels like it is, but he wants to be completely sure. We are trying to help him identify that he has already had an answer to weather or not it is true. We know that he had that witness, but he doesn't yet.

We also met and tried to teach this Bahai women. There beliefs are pretty interesting. Our meeting with her didn't really turn into us trying to teach her, but her trying to teach us. It was pretty unique, even though half the stuff she was saying didn't really make sense to us. :/ Don't know what to do there. We go back and help her with service and all, but she has no desire to change. 

We went to the Ludwigs every night this last week because no one signed up for dinner and they are happy to have us over. They are a sweet family like I have said before. We have so many laughs with them. Last time, we danced with them with their game Just Dance 3. Brother and Sister Ludwig love it when we connect with their kids. 

Also, we went on exchanges since I am companions with the district leader of our district. We went on exchanges with the Elders in Clarshome who are Elder Allredge and Elder Olson. I was with Elder Olson in my area for about two days. Elder Olson is from AF and it was super cool to hear and update on how home was in his eyes. He is still learning how to be a good missionary seeing that he has only been out for 9 months. It is pretty cool to look how old I am in the mission and give advice to the young elders of the mission. I can still think of the times when I was a young one in the mission. Like a Greenie. 

Our district is a sweet district and we have so much fun together. We also learn from each other. Maybe some time I can send you a picture of our district. 

Now to the Questions:

1. Does my companion speak English very well?

When my companion was 12, he moved from Germany to Canada in Edmonton and has learn English here. You have to listen very carefully to pick up his accent.

2. Do I learn any German from my companion?

He hasn't told me much yet. I ask him how to say certain things, but that's it.

3. Why does my area have the law about no tracting?

We have been told is because the mayor here and the mayor in Fort Mcloued do not like Mormons and made this law. I figure that this has been here for quite some time. 

4. Do I have more details about my investigators?

(Look above in the summary)

5. Will I do anything special in my one year mark?

I haven't planned anything quite yet for it. I do plan to burn a shirt and tie, but other than that, nothing huge.

6. Am I living with other missionaries?

The only area that has two missionaries in one apartment is in Cranbrook, BC.

7. How does my mission home get money to me?

They transfer the money over to my account with my card monthly. Its about $200 per month.

8. Do we ever bike?

We biked a bit in my last area, but I am not too good at biking. We usually drive, or walk. The bikes are usually there when we get to a new area.

9. What is the percentage of Sister missionaries to elders in my mission?

I hear that it is 20% of our mission is Sisters. I am not too sure with that exactly. 

10. Any seniour couples in the mission?

The only time I have seen a Senior couple missionaries was in BC. Other than that I have not seen any. I have heard of some, but not seen any.

Well, that is all that has happen this week and can't wait till my year mark! I am halfway there! Love you all!

Transferred, In Missionary Heaven, and Lost Wallet

(Me, Elder Mackay (my mission dad), my mission brother)

​Lots has happened since the last time I have emailed you guys. First I got transferred down to the south again which I love! I love serving in the south because I like the members in the south because they are more workable than the members in Calgary. 

Me and my new companion just got purged into this area meaning we both came into this area without knowing what it is. My new companion is Elder Koneitz. He is from Germany! He is pretty cool so far. Me and him get along pretty well. The area is freaking sweet though! There are so many service opportunities here it is not funny! Plus the WML family is so much fun to be with. Their name is called the Ludwigs! They have 6 children and one is on a mission. They are so much fun. The area I am in is called Pincher Creek.

There is a law here in the city where we cannot go tracting or street contacting when talking about the gospel which I don't mind honestly. We will have different ways to find here. But there is plenty of services here. 

But sadly after 3 days here, I lost my wallet. I think I left it in my apartment here in Pincher Creek somewhere, but I don't know where or it fell out of my pocket. I hope I can find it or get new stuff.

Question Time:

1. How many missionaries are in my zone? District?

I have 22 missionaries in my zone, I have 8 missionaries in my district.

2. Does my area serve one specific ward/branch?

We cover Pincher Creek and a little branch in the Crows nest pass. 

3. How long has my companion been out on his mission?

He has been out for 10 months. One transfer before me.

4. Have I met my new companion before I was his companion?

No.

5. What types and numbers of investigators are here in this area?

We have 2 investigators here who are really solid and are just ready to get baptized soon.

6. Does my area have a car or bicycle?

Both. We can use either or. We have certain clicks with our car though.

7. When missionaries go to a new area, are they required to travel together for some of the way or do they go totally on their own?

We meet at a transfer station. For the North we meet up in the Willow Park Chapel in the South part of Calgary. In the south we meet in the West Stake Center in the Lethbridge city. We meet there, get our companion, and travel in car there. 

8. Are there any other missionaries here that I know?

Elder Olson who is from American Fork is here in my district. Elder Delange who was in my very first zone is here in my district. Elder Lusk is in my zone.

9. Am I happy with the change?

I am happy so far with this change. I hope it continues like this.

10. Is it got up here?

Oh very much so! It is so hot it is not even funny! But it is still enjoyable! 

Well, that is all I have here! Love you all and stay safe!