Saturday 31 December 2016

6. CTM: OUR TEMPORARY APARTMENT/WARD/TEMPLE and other things Dec 16-Feb 17

As full time missionaries we represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on our mission.  Our blog represents our own personal experiences.  The official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is:        https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng  (click twice)


FOR A FEW WEEKS, WE WILL BE LIVING IN BRAMPTON AND HAVE BEEN ASKED BY OUR MISSION PRESIDENT TO WORK MAINLY AT THE BISHOP'S STOREHOUSE AND TO TAKE OTHER ASSIGNMENTS AS HE MAY REQUEST INCLUDING PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO FULL TIME MISSIONARIES WHEN HE REQUESTS.  EVENTUALLY WE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH A COUPLE OF SMALL BRANCHES A FEW HOURS NORTH OF TORONTO, ONE OF THEM IN QUEBEC.  RIGHT NOW THERE IS A COUPLE IN THAT AREA BUT THEIR MISSION WILL END AROUND THE FIRST OF MARCH.  SO WE WILL BE IN BRAMPTON UNTIL THAT TIME.  WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ATTEND THE MISSISSAUGA WARD WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF HOUR DRIVE FROM OUR APARTMENT.



We live in a 16 story complex.  Our apartment is on the 8th floor and our windows face east.  So far, on most days, we have been out of our apartment long before the sun comes up.  But on Pday we get to see the sun rise.








As the sun rises and rays comes through the windows in our apartment, there is a soft golden glow.  


Looking out our windows we see, below us, a small lake/pond and a mini forest.  But this is in the midst of a massively large city.  Millions live here.  The roads are crowded and slowdowns are frequent.  So its nice to see a bit of nature.




Sometimes the humidity here with the freezing temperatures makes us feel as cold as the ducks and geese who hang out right below our apartment building.


yup, we have a bedroom


We hung our stockings and put up our nativity scene which Barb's folks brought back from their mission to Africa, and, yes, Santa came.  We were so glad to Face Time our kids and grandkids.  Special moments.  We felt close to each other and to the Savior being together on Christmas day.  One funny thing.  Being so busy with applying for our mission, waiting on our call, packing/storing, waiting on our visas, getting reassigned, spending time at the MTC, traveling from Provo to Toronto, getting adjusted to our mission and assignments, well.......we just got so busy that we forgot to buy each other Christmas gifts.  So, at the last moment, we joined the ranks of thousands, all of us scrambling in the mall trying to find that 'just right' gift for each other.  And they were just right.





THESE NEXT 3 PICTURES ARE FOR ANY OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN WHO MAY CHOOSE TO SERVE A FULL TIME MISSION.  THE MISSION LEADERSHIP WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE REGULAR AEROBIC EXERCISE.  BUT WHEN YOU START GETTING INVOLVED IN MISSION WORK IT IS SO HARD TO KEEP A CONSISTENT EXERCISE PROGRAM GOING.  WE DECIDED THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR DAYS ARE LONG, WE ARE ALWAYS TIRED, SOMETIMES EXHAUSTED AND SOMETIMES NOT FEELING WELL, WE WILL STILL MAINTAIN AN EXERCISE PROGRAM OF SOME TYPE.





AND LAUNDRY HAS TO BE DONE IN SPITE OF BUSY SCHEDULES




For the next few weeks we are assigned to attend and spend time with the Mississauga ward.  There are 3 sets of young full time missionaries there.  One set is Spanish speaking, another is Mandarin speaking and the Sisters speak English.  The ward also has access to Farsi missionaries if needed, or any of dozens of potential languages that my be needed to teach the gospel.  In attending the ward it is obvious that people are from all over the world:  South/Central America, Asia, Europe, Africa.  Some can't speak English well, others not at all, yet.  We asked one person how many different countries people in the ward have come from in the current generation.  One person said 68 another 32.  The Bishop said he doesn't know but it might be over 40 or 50.  We love being in such a culturally diversified setting!  One stake leader said they had over 70 nations represented in the stake.





We had the opportunity, on a cold cold day, to attend the temple with Elder and Sister Knight.  They have become wonderful friends the very moment we met them.  Yes he is tall.  6' 6"











Wednesday 14 December 2016

5. CTM: TRAVEL TO THE MISSION FIELD Nov 2016


As full time missionaries we represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on our mission.  Our blog represents our own personal experiences.  The official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is:        https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng  (click twice)

TRAVEL TO THE MTC THEN ON TO TORONTO


Crossing the border from Alberta to Montana took less than three minutes.




Good weather and roads through Montana



A little snow in Idaho

     













On our mission to South America we met a lot of other couples serving full time missions from the USA.  We made lasting friendships with most of them.  On our way to the MTC we stayed overnight with Noel and LaDee Raymond in Minan, Idaho, population 741.  What a great reunion to spend time with them!






Then on to Utah


The Brigham City Tabernacle 













The Brigham City Temple



Then to the Salt Lake temple and Visitor's center






































Then on to visit the Miles family in Sandy, enjoy Dana's famous roast beef dinner, great visits to catch up on family and then on to Provo to the MTC.




It was close to the MTC when the snow really came just when we got to Provo to visit the two temples there


THE PROVO TEMPLE


AND THE PROVO CITY CENTER TEMPLE



THEN THE EXPERIENCE AT THE PROVO MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER (AN MTC NOT 'THE' MTC SINCE THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 15 MTC's THROUGHOUT THE WORLD)

We enjoyed our training, mostly conducted by young men and women recently returned from their missions, from all over the world.  Excellent instructors, all of them, full of enthusiasm.  There were 139 seniors during our week and about 1500 young elders and sisters the first part of the week and about 2000 the latter part of the week.  It was wonderful to be there with them all.  A spiritual experience for both of us!









We ran into a few people we knew or were connected to when we were at the MTC, such as Steve's second cousin Randy Mehew.  He and his  wife coordinate the 2500 (plus or minus) volunteers who serve at the MTC, we also met some young missionaries from Canada, and

surprise

Elder and Sister Harker, from Magrath.  Elder Harker is Grandma Davies' cousin.  They were going to serve at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.





After our training at the MTC we were on to our long drive from Provo to Toronto.  Some weather and road conditions were good, but most was blowing snow, blizzards, white out condition, ice, blowing snow and slow going.  We prayed a lot, trusted in the Lord and are thankful that we made it to Canada safe.



















Going across the border from Michigan into Ontario took about three minutes.
(Note:  for undisclosed reasons Barb was driving at both border crossings)
(Note:  neither of us were interrogated at either border crossing)

And to our temporary apartment in Brampton Ontario





Thursday 1 December 2016

4. CTM: WHAT WILL WE TEACH?



WHILE ON OUR MISSION, WE WILL BE REPRESENTING JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.  THE SPECIFIC DOCTRINES, BELIEFS AND PROCESSES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING SITE:  
https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

IN A GENERAL SENSE, WHILE ON OUR MISSION, WE WILL TEACH AND EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING CONCEPTS TO THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED.  WE CAN TEACH THESE CONCEPTS TO OTHERS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THEM OURSELVES.   



 Do you want a
CROWN OF EXALTATION IN THE NEXT LIFE?

D&C 25:15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. 



Do you want the Savior’s
PEACE IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT?






John 16:33   These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.



if you are interested then here are some things you can do: 




READ THE BIBLE AND THE BOOK OF MORMON



and


SAY YOUR PRAYERS REGULARLY



and


FOLLOW THE SAVIOR/APPLY HIS ATONEMENT
in
YOUR LIFE









Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

D&C 100:2 Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.

D&C 19:18-19 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
and


REPENT and CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR and IMPROVE
                                                                            
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Moses 5:14 And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and commanded them that they should repent;

and



CONSIDER THE COVENANTS AND ORDINANCES THE SAVIOR HAS PROVIDED











D&C 107:67  From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of hands.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

and


FORGIVE OTHERS




D&C 64:10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
3 Nephi 13:14-15  For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

and


PRACTICE CHARITY




2 Nephi 26:30 ...the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

1 Corinthians 13:4 and 13  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,…And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 7:47-8  But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 

and


HAVE MERCY




Alma 32:13 … whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

1 Nephi 8:8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

and


BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE AS DIRECTED BY THE SAVIOR
AND BY THE HOLY GHOST AND AS THE MOMENT DICTATES TO
HELP OUR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN
                                     
D&C 138:13 And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.

D&C 59:8 Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

and seek


GOSPEL and UPLIFTING EXPERIENCES SERVING AND INTERACTING WITH OTHERS




D&C 105:10 That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands.

D&C 122:7  …all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

and then

WAIT on the LORD and put your TRUST
IN HIM





JST Matthew 3:24  Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord 

Isaiah 40:31   But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER!