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"
