Transfer-not happy

Well, things have change in the mission which is a bit odd. Transfers will now be on Thursday instead of Wednesday so that gives us an extra day to say goodbye to people. It is weird that our President is changing the mission so much since my year mark. But we just go along with it.

As you can see from the subject of this email is that I am not happy about my transfer notice. I am going north. It just that it really upsets me when things go so well here and we are about to end well with several investigators, I get freakin transferred. I don't ever witness what goes on with our investigators after or even the members and I hate that. It has happened with me in every area and I just hate it! Plus, I don't like the north. The members aren't very helpful and the work there is just not good. But, I guess I will go whether I like it or not and see what I can do.

Lots of great things happened this last week. We have gotten a lot of referrals from members which are promising and pick up a new golden investigator. But I won't be here for those people. We talked with Nick and read the Book of Mormon with him and he really liked it. He just has a hard time understanding what the Book of Mormon is about and what is going on. It was cool how he related himself to Nephi. That is awesome!

Thanksgiving was great. Most of our district came over to the Ludwigs house and ate there. I didn't have to do any dishes because it was paper plates and cups. But we had a blast! We laughed a ton and the Ludwigs really enjoyed us. The food was delicious as well! But I am prepared for a week of Thanksgiving leftovers for dinners. Oh, boy! :/ I am surely going to miss the Ludwigs a lot when I leave and probably going to cry when we say goodbye. 

My exchange with Robbi was awesome! We had so much fun and reflected on the days we had when we were companions. 

After exchanges with Robbi, I went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I went with Elder Call this time and we also had a fun time. We quoted a lot of movies that we have seen and all that jazz. 

Now Question time

1. Did I get the package?

Yes, I got it and I opened it because transfers was coming up. Thank you so much!

Well, got a lot of stuff to do this P-day and people to say goodbye to. Sorry this letter is short. See ya!

This was a sick week (both literally and the definition when something is awesome)

Well Hello there!

I am doing pretty good. This week as we can tell from the subject of my email was a pretty exciting one, but also a pretty hard one. First, let us start in the beginning:

After our P-day, I went on exchanges with Elder Allredge who came out with me. He serves in Clareshome. We had a pretty fun time talking a lot and hearing our views on what the mission is like. For exchanges, he had to get his teeth fixed because Elder Konietz threw a basketball at him while Elder Allredge was holding a pipe up to his face and chipped his tooth. He got it fixed though and he is happy about that. After, we were going to help to service for this one lady, but she canceled it due to the weather of so much rain. So, me and Elder Allredge went to a town in their area called Vulcan. Yep you heard right. Vulcan! Like Star Trek. They have a museum there that is Star Trek related and I took some pictures there so you can see it. It is a pretty sweet place! We had a fun time on exchanges. Today I am going on exchanges with Elder Robinson who was my former companion so that is going to be a blast.

After district meeting on Wednesday, we were driving back to our area and I was feeling super weak and was coughing and hacking. We still had basketball to play that night with our non members, and I wasn't my full self. I was coughing all over the place. The Ludwigs gave me a lot of medicine for it and it helped a bit. I wasn't really feeling weak anymore, but I still coughed a ton and today I still do. I wonder what I have. I can't keep myself from coughing. I hope I get better sooner or later.

We met with Nick our investigator this Thursday and we kinda figured out a concern for him. He doesn't fully agree with all the doctrine our church and has a difficult time understanding the Book of Mormon. We are going to read with him weekly now from the Book of Mormon to help him understand it. He's been investigating the church for a long time!

Conference was super sweet! I really like this one. In fact, I think it was my most favorite overall. It was pretty cool because we brought a potential investigator and Nick to the last session and what Elder Bednar spoke of what just exactly what we thought Nick needed to hear and he also really enjoyed Bednars talk. 

Let's answer some questions:

Question #1, what talk or talks caused you to be taught most by the Holy Ghost? Which of all the wonderful message was your favorite?

I really liked D. Todd Christoffersen's talk. That is what really got me thinking. Out here, missionaries think they can change an investigator, their companion, etc. But the only person that can change who they are is themselves. I can't make my investigator believe things. I can't make my companion do things to my liking. They have to understand it for themselves. 

Question #2 How many other investigators do you currently have and where they are as far as receiving the missionary lessons?

The same as it has been before. Adam, Jen, and Nick.

Question #3, Do you use family history and temple work to help with investigators and the members on your mission? 

We can if they are interested in that. That can be one of the finding activities. Problem is, we don't have one here in Pincher creek. Plus, we don't really teach about temple work or family history till the 5th lesson and many investigators drop by that point.

Question #4 is where you watched General Conference?

A couple of sessions we watched it at our church here. One we watched at the Ludwigs.

Question #5 is if your mission has you go to see the dentist during your mission?

We don't do yearly checkups with any medical stuff as far as I know on this mission.

Question #6 Have you met anyone who know Dawna Baugh family (the Folsoms?)

I keep on forgetting. I am sorry. :/ I will be sure to remember this next time. 

Qustion #7 Is it freezing cold up there?  Or is it cold one day warm the other?

It did snow randomly this week. The weather up here is pretty crazy so you don't know what to expect at all. But is is all good ^_^

Well, that is all I got for this week. This week is board week meaning where President decides who gets transferred or not. Till then, see ya!

...wow I just drew a blank

You ever have those moments where you are about to say something or emailing something to a person and you just totally forgot what you were going to say? Yep, that just happened right when I was about to open up this compose email box. Now give me a minute to think about what I need to type...

Oh! I got it! This week went by pretty fast. I think I remember telling you that there wasn't any exchanges because of the Elder Packer thing and all the confusion that was going on. So, this entire week I was spending time with my companion! Surprise surprise! Whoo hoo! Well, let me think. I am slowly thinking today just give me a couple minutes. Oh, we visited most of out potentials and, again, the appointment always falls through and we couldn't meet with them. Seems like it has been that way forever, but you get used to it after a while being a missionary.

But something pretty cool happened this week. Me and Elder Konietz were planning on asking one of our promising investigators a question like, "Why do you think it's important to be baptized?" When we went to church and saw him there, we asked him that question and it was cool because he told us that he was also thinking about that as well! It was freakin awesome! We are meeting him this Thursday and hopefully will be able to put him on date. If this follows through, it will be my first official baptism. I don't really count the one that I had in Calgary seeing that I really didn't do anything. 

I have been taking a lot of pictures lately and I got to say I really like doing it! Now that I take my camera everywhere, I can look back on the pictures. They are sweet! I always had a fascination of cameras and how they work.

Today I am going to to go to Clareshome on exchanges with Elder Allredge until Wednesday. It is going to be a fun time. Thank you for sending the package! I hope I will be able to get it sooner or later. Love you all! Bye Bye!

-Elder Perucca

September 23, 2014

Oh, how I find enjoyment of being a DLB because I love going on exchanges with other people. Unfortunately, I cannot go on exchanges this week since this week is all crazy with meeting a general authority and P-day being on Tuesday rather on Monday. Which reminds me, THIS TRANSFER IS 5 WEEKS! Not 7 weeks! That is next transfer. 

Anywho, yesterday a General Authority came to our mission. It was Elder Packer. Not the 12 apostles packer, but the seventy Packer. He taught us how to teach effectively. Many people out here think that all they have to do is be obedient and they are automatically great at teaching. However, you can see the difference because usually, obedient missionaries solely rely on the Lord to do their teaching, which is wrong in my opinion. Elder Packer said that the most effective teaching is usually asking direct questions and helping them how to know the church is true.  You need to do your part in order for the Lord to do His part as well. It just makes sense and I can testify that it did happen. We have two promising investigators at the moment. I didn't talk to President. It went well. We mostly looked back on how much I have grown in the past year. 

Another thing that bothers me so much is this: I have learned how to deal with certain kinds of companions. Sometimes, I think missionaries out here don't understand fully on what missionary work is and I know they learn throughout the mission, but there is one thing that makes missionaries not happy at all. It is when their companion forces them to do something. I have seen and experienced missionaries forcing their companions to do certain things they like just because they want to do it. The other companions says his opinion, but the other missionary ignores it and wants it done his way. That feeling of having someone not listen to you or ignore you is completely frustrating. When missionaries do this, you can see their area and them failing so bad. What I feel these missionaries need to do is not through what they think or what they know down their companions throat. 

That is what deeply frustrates me and I am glad that my companion right now is not doing that because if he did, I would not like it at all. 

Other than that, we have been trying to talk to our investigators so that we can get back with them, but most of them have not answered so we can't really meet with them. It is a bit frustrating, but we just have to be patient. 

Anyways, that is all I got and there hasn't been any questions this time in the letters. So, yeah. Also, I will be now emailing on Monday from now on...I hope. So just like you to know that. See you guys! Love you!

-Elder Perucca

Our district is now different...but still great!

Hello! Sorry for the late email to you all. Things were a bit confusing this week because President came and interviewed us on P-day which through our whole P-day off. Plus, we were going to email after our district meeting on Wednesday, but someone signed up to feed us lunch this time instead of dinner so we had to leave early from Fort Macloed. 

Now here I am emailing you all finally. I am not quite sure the exact day me and my companion have decided to do emails this week. Like I have done before, we usually do them on Wednesday, but this next week is going to be quite crazy! We have a special mission conference where one of the seventy comes down and talks to our mission. This time it is Elder Packer, not the apostle though. But he is probably going to give us some guidelines of social network proselyting. We are still not quite sure exactly when are getting iPads now because Sister Nicholas told us that we won't be getting them for a bit still. This is frustrating me a lot. Not for not getting the iPads, but they just don't tell us anything about it. We ask and ask when we are going to get them and they don't say anything or give us a time estimate. It just bugs me!

Anyways, as I said in my last email it was transfer week. Two people have come into our district and I am happy to announce that I do know them both! It is fun to be out for so long and know most of the people in our mission. Anywho, the one who got transferred to Clareshome and is Elder Allredge companion is Elder Bennett. He has been out the same time as I have. He was in my first zone when I was in BC. He was in the Cranbrook area when I was in Creston. It was crazy though! After he got trained, he was called to district leader and also had to train a new companion and he was going through a ton of stuff! But now he is ok, I think. He seems a lot more calmer than he used to be. 

The one who got transferred to Parklake and is with Elder Campell right now is, and I am so excited about it, it is Elder Robinson! My former companion is now here in our district! I was super happy that he got transferred here. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a really good companion. Well, that is my opinion, but he is really struggling. Thing is that he has had great areas and fantastic companions his entire mission so far...until now. He has gotten a bit better though that he has talked to President. It does help when you do talk to President! But Elder Robinson has been out for 10 1/2 months and is getting pretty close to his year mark. 

Oh! I forgot to tell you! This transfer is going to be super weird! You know why? Well, instead of a 6 week transfer as usual, this is going to be a 5 week transfer! I was pretty surprise myself when they announced it. Also, that is not all. The transfer after this one is going to be a 7 week transfer to make up for the lost week in this transfer. I think the reason they told us is that our Mission President is going to a President seminar and he would like to be here on transfer week. I still haven't estimated what is going to happen on who is going to get transferred where at the end of this transfer, but everyone seems to think I will leave. I don't want to leave because I love this place so much!

Now our area is doing good so far! It is pretty funny how every area I have gone to, the entire focus on what we missionaries do is to strengthen the members to do missionary work. But not just to do it, but how to do it. A lot of members out here are very excited to do it. Some are willing to do it, but need to be shown different ways on how to do it. It seems like that has been what I have been focusing on my entire mission as of now. Haven't been really teaching a ton of investigators, but members and less-actives I have taught a ton!

My birthday is coming up, but that seems so far away. Here are a few things that popped into my head as for now: Instant Breakfasts  and lots of ties!

Alright now! It is question time! You ready?:

1.How was the cornbust? 

The cornbust was actually pretty fun and also I got really full from it! The thing is though, around this time we get fed a bunch of corn! I am pretty sick of corn at the moment, but I will still eat it if necessary. But there were other foods at the cornbust too like tons of desserts and sloppy joes and hot dogs. Unfortunately, the people we invited didn't show up at the Cornbust. This tends to happen and you get used to it after a while when no one you invite comes. But that's all you can do really. 

2. Have I taken the attribute self-assessment test in Preach My Gospel? 

Yes, I have more than once actually. It is one of my spiritual messages that I leave with people when we eat dinner with them. 

3. Is Cornbust something that is done throughout all of Canada and is it a national holiday or something else?

From what I know, this is a yearly thing, but I don't think it is a celebration of some kind. This, from what I get, is done yearly around this time because this is where the corn is done or grown. It is really a get together and it is usually done by the Church up here. I don't know if they do it all throughout Canada, but from what I hear they mostly do it here in Alberta. 

4. Is that the missionary car you are standing next to in the picture from last week or is it a member's car?

That is our mission car. It is a 2012 Subaru Impreza. I don't really like it because it doesn't have the USB port to play music. I have to just use my CD, or an AUX cord. But it is alright!

5. For the iPads that we are going to get, they will probably be iPad Minis and not full size iPads correct? 

From what we have heard, yes they will be Minis.

6. Specifically about the iPads is if they have church missionary apps on them to help you with the missionary work.

We have been told that the Church will add things on them so that we may able to do missionary work on them like reporting our numbers, emailing, facebook, schedule appointments, etc. I don't know the whole thing about them quite yet. Regan Lewis told me some things since she does have the iPad in here mission and tells me that it helps a ton!

7. Are the grades in pre-college schools similar to the USA school grades?

I haven't got a complete verification on that one, but I do believe so.

I guess that is it for questions! You guys sure like to ask a whole bunch of questions and I am willing to answer them . ^_^ I hope Jayne had a wonderful birthday and I wonder if you guys still say in your prayers, "Please bless "so-and-so" that they will grow up". Heh, I remember I used to say that a lot! 

Alright I think that is everything I got for you guys! Love you all and I have plenty of pictures to send you guys! Love you all!

(We decided to write mormon.org on the side of the apartments we live on. It was pretty dang sweet!)

(I did a little ice bucket/jumping in the snow face first challenge and I will probably show you that when I upload it online. This was the imprint we made)

Transfer Week #9

Sorry I didn't tell you guys this earlier, but we are emailing on Tuesday this week since P-day is on Tuesday this week. It happens every at the end of every transfer so usually on Week 6 on the transfer. I just wanted you to know so that in the future you can be able to email me the questions you wanted to ask.

Anyways, this week as I say in my subject is transfer week. However, neither me or my companion are getting transferred which makes us both very happy! We love our area and serving with each other. I would say he is getting very close to be my favorite companion. Two Elders in our district are getting transferred however. Elder Olsen, who lived in American Fork, and Elder Keith are both going to the north part of the mission which is Calgary. So we will be getting two new missionaries in our district. It is going to be pretty interesting to get used to the new elders. 

This week it has been a lot of working with the members with referrals and their missionary work. The people we try to visit can't seem to hold up on their appointments with us so we can't usually meet with them. Also, today actually, is our wards Cornbust. Now, I don't know if you remember, but I believe my very first week in the mission was when the Cornbust in Creston was and I had a blast there, so hopefully this one will be sweet as well! There should be a whole lot of people coming to it and hopefully some promising investigators. Only one problem with the Cornbust however is we can't have it outside. You wanna know why? Here's why:

​And it still snowing as we speak. They said that it will snow until Thursday when it will return to be sunny. Canada weather is really weird. Sometimes even weirder than Utah weather. I do like snow though, just, not at certain times. So we will be having the Cornbust inside so that will be pretty interesting. :/ Also, you may also see that I have a new jacket. Remember when I told you when I went on exchanges in Fort Macloed? We were helping a United Church do some back to school sorting of their clothes, and I found this new jacket and they said I can keep it. I may not have to buy anymore clothing for my mission since I keep getting more and more free stuff here and there. 

We have also heard that we are getting Ipads around the 22nd of September. If you haven't read the article, it explains what is going on. It costs $400 to get it. Now I don't know if that will come out of our home flow or mission funds. That hasn't been told to us quite yet. So, we shall see.

I do have some pictures of last week with me so here they are:

Sorry for the second picture. You may have to turn your head to read it, but we found this at a restaurant. 

Another thing that has happened though is that school has actually started here! It makes me miss those days of school. Awe man do I miss school. But I got a year left for that so no worries. Well, I think that is all. Hope you liked my talk that I sent last time and sorry for the early email. There will probably be a lot of questions for me to answer next week! See ya! Love you!

Board Week!!!!!

If you don't know what Board week is, that is when the Mission President gets out his "board" and arranges around the missionaries for transfers. It is also the time where we could get training calls or leadership calls as well. Although, I don't think that is going to happen to us. 

Anywho, let me think what was going on this week. Hmmm, we got a ton of potential investigators. Now my opinion about potentials are that for me they rarely keep with their appointments. Every time we have had a "potential", we go over to the place they want to meet and they don't answer the door or are too busy for us to come over so that is usually a result for a dropped investigator. But we have over 15 potentials here. How many are solid? Well, we will just have to see when we go and visit them. 

We also gave our talk in the Pincher Creek ward this last Sunday. It was pretty sweet how everything was this Sunday. EVERY THING  was about missionary work. The talks, Sunday School lessons, and the Priesthood lesson was all about missionary work. For my talk this time, they gave me the talk called, "How to Be a Good Member Missionary?". I was thinking about my talk when I was preparing it. Usually when someone announces that their talk is going to be about Missionary work, the congregation sighs and doesn't want to hear it because they heard it so many times. They don't like to hear that we need to go up to people to share the gospel and all that. So I decided to change my talk a little bit and talk about another form of missionary work, Being an example to others. 

I will send you the little draft I made of my talk. I didn't say everything that I wrote down on it. I added little parts in here and there. It was pretty awesome to see everyone's response to it and how much they paid attention. It was also sweet how well my talk went because I usually don't speak that well, but the words came with such easiness it was cool. My companion followed my talk on why we do missionary work. It was a coolSunday!

We also had a lesson out in the Pass with these two people named Jen and Adam. Jen seemed into it, Adam was kinda there to contend. They are very spiritual people, but one of their concerns is that they are afraid to ask a specific question fearing that it will interfere with God's will. Next time we see them, we hope that we will answer that question and that they will more understand what they need to do.

I just got off this last exchange with Elders from the Parklake ward. I was with Elder Cambell here and Elder Konietz went with Elder Keith. Elder Cambell and I came out at the same time. We talked about our memories in the MTC and he also served with my mission dad and told me how he was doing. The exchange went well. He had different views of what missionary work was than I did, but we did well.

Ok, now it is time for your favorite time for the emails. Question time!!!

1. Was the session the missionaries attended only for full time missionaries or were there other non-missionaries in the session?

I only saw 3 non-missionaries that were with us during the session. When it came to the prayer circle, they just asked the temple workers to come in and do it. We missionaries couldn't do that since the rule was there.

2. What exactly did that family and maybe you and your companion write on the shirt?

All I wrote on the shirt was, "Elder Perucca's 1 year Mark." My companion didn't write anything else on it. The Ludwigs however went all out on the shirt. There was a couple of Justin Beiber lyrics on there. There was quite a bit of Burn Baby Burn lyrics on there. Also they wrote their names and drew stuff on it. They just had fun scribbling all over the shirt. :)

3. Whether on most exchanges if you stay overnight in the area you go to or do you go back to your regular area at the end of the day?

Usually, exchanges last for only a day, but since we are so far away, we exchange at the end of P-day and don't exchange back until on Wednesday at 10 where we do district meetings. So, yes we do stay overnight when we do official exchanges. Sometimes we do little exchanges here and there and those don't stay overnight. It's just for an hour or two.

4. Do you and your companion switch back and forth on what ward/branch you attend when you have multiple wards/branches you have responsibility for?

It depends on how far away the ward/branch is from where we live. The only two times where I have had two wards/branches was now and in Creston, but the wards are pretty dang far away. In Creston it took about an hour and a half to get to the meeting house and here it takes about 45 minutes to get there. We only have a certain amount of clicks so we can't go out a ton. We have only gone out twice to the Pass and the rest was in Pincher Creek. 

5. Whether you as a missionary are encouraged to keep a gospel study journal?

We have been encouraged somewhat. I have seen missionaries who do that. I don't do that usually. In my Preach My Gospel, I usually just write on the notes on the sides. The scriptures I write in my scriptures of what I thought. Maybe when I run out of space in my Scriptures, I will have to get a study journal.

6.Did you know that Jayne will be having her 1st birthday a week from tomorrow?
Yes, I did know that and I am sad I get to miss it. :(. I do see videos of Jayne here and there on facebook and she is adorable and...hopefully she will be friendly to me when I get back. 

7.How many total missionaries are now in your mission?  Do you know how many are elders, how many are sisters, and how many are senior couples?

I thought I answered this question already...but, there are about 250 missionaries here. I don't know exactly how many elders, sisters, or senior couples are in the mission, but I heard the percentage was 80% for elders, 15% for sisters, 5% for senior missionaries.

8. Does your mission have missionaries to go the doctor on a yearly time frame to have a physical, etc.?

I don't know. I haven't heard anything about that or if we have to. :/

9. Are the members in Pincher Creek good at feeding the missionaries?

I also thought that I answered this question as well...but somewhat. If we don't have anyone to feed us, the Ludwigs volunteer to feed us. 

10. How often do you go on splits?

It depends on who you are with. If you and your companion are just regular missionaries, it is about 2, so that the district leader can go with both companions. But since my companion is the district leader, we go on exchanges with all the elders which there is 3 companion-ships other than us. We went weekly this transfer, but it may change this next transfer.

11. How often do you have District meetings and how many are in the district?

District meetings are on a weekly basis. Every Wednesday for us. There are sometimes Zone Training meetings which usually are two times a transfer. There are 8 of us in this district which is pretty big.

12. Is Pincher Creek like Creston?  Same size? By the mountains?

Pincher Creek is very much like Creston. Small town, stores close at the same time as in Creston, and they are by the mountains as well. Creston is surrounded by mountains, here they are just off to the side.

13. Do you help play the piano at church meetings, or missionary meetings?

I didn't really start playing the piano for church meetings really till I got here. I somewhat play the prelude music of sacrament meeting here. I play until the organist gets there. Missionary meetings usually yes I do. But there are certain Hymns I cannot play though so that kinda holds me back with that. 

I think that is about it with the whole week! Sorry no photos this week though. :/ I forgot my camera this time :/. I will try to bring it next time! Love you all and take care!

-Elder Perucca

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!