CTM: GETTING MORE INVOLVED

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)

WE TRAVEL A LOT

WE GIVE A LOT OF TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS

WE TEACH A LOT OF LESSONS

WE FEED A LOT OF MISSIONARIES

WE REVIEW A LOT OF MISSIONARIES APARTMENTS

WE DO A LOT OF HOME/VISIT TEACHING

WE PROMOTE THE CHURCH IN A LOT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS

WE PROMOTE FAMILY HISTORY AND LIFE HISTORIES A LOT

WE SEE A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL NATURE

WE HAVE MET A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE

WE HELP A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE

WE LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND THEIR HISTORY

WE USE WHAT WE HAVE AND ARE TO BRING LIGHT TO OTHERS

WE HELP A LOT OF POOR AND NEEDY

WE HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO THE NEXT STEP OF THEIR PROGRESSION

WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL WHERE WE ARE ASSIGNED!!

TWO OLD SAGES AND A YOUNG SAGE VISITING ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS

and an even younger sage

THE OLDEST 'SAGE' IN OUR BRANCH ON HER 96th BIRTHDAY.  STILL HAS SPARKS IN HER EYES.  WE SANG HAPPY BDAY AND BROUGHT HER A FLOWER.  THE MISSIONARIES (Elder Deweese and Elder Hansen) BRING A SACRAMENT MEETING TO HER MOST SUNDAYS

CHECKING OUT A WELL ORGANIZED MISSIONARY APARTMENT IN 

ROUYN-NORANDA QUEBEC

DELIVERING A TREAT TO THE TIMISKIMING ELDERS IN THE POURING RAIN

COLORING EASTER EGGS AND REMEMBERING THE SAVIOR ON EASTER WEEKEND AT PRESIDENT JAKOB'S IN ELK LAKE.  HE'S THE ONLY MEMBER IN THE TOWN OF 400, JUST OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE CHURCH BUILDING

WE RAN A WORKSHOP AT ZONE COUNCIL IN NORTH BAY ON COMPANIONSHIP UNITY

STANDING ON A SMALL STOOL TO MEASURE A TALL YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO ACTIVITY NIGHT AT OUR PLACE

ATTENDING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN SUDBURY

STEVE HELPED BROTHER CUSHMAN GIVE A BLESSING TO HIS WIFE:  FIRST BLESSING WARREN HAS GIVEN IN 16 YEARS.  THEY ARE 2 OF THE 3 MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WHO LIVE IN ENGLEHART, JUST LESS THAN AN HOUR FROM US

EASTER MEAL FOR MISSIONARIES PUT ON BY THE RS AFTER SACRAMENT MEETING

BEING OLD, IF WE DON'T KEEP MOVING, WE SEIZE UP.  WE OFTEN WALK IN THE BEAUTIES OF GOD'S AMAZING EARTH TO TO KEEP OUR BODIES SOMEWHAT FIT

HELPING THE MISSIONARIES GET ONE OF THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO CHURCH

A NICE MOTHER'S DAY FOR BARB

SPENDING TIME AT PRESIDENT JAKOB'S HELPING

DISTRICT MEETING, USUALLY DONE ON SKYPE BUT SOMETIMES IN PERSON

IN THE TOWN OF COBALT, THEIR WAR MUSEUM, THEY REMEMBER THOSE WHO SACRIFICED IN COMBAT

A PRAYER BOOK THAT STOPPED A BULLET

A PICTURE REPRESENTING FAITH THAT THE SAVIOR GOT THEM THROUGH TOUGH TIMES

A TRIP TO TORONTO TO GO TO THE TEMPLE, VISIT SOME FRIENDS AND ATTEND ZONE CONFERENCE--TRAVEL IS ABOUT AN 12 HOUR ROUND TRIP (unless it is in the winter, their are accidents, road closures or other problems--one winter month it was a 15 hour round trip)

MISSIONARIES FROM ALBERTA GRAVITATE TO EACH OTHER FOR A BRIEF VISIT DURING ZONE CONFERENCE.  BARB AND DIAN WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER

PRESIDENT SHIELDS CHATTING WITH SENIOR COUPLES

MISSIONARIES DURING LUNCH BREAK AT ZONE CONFERENCE:  TIRED AND HUNGRY

SINGING TO THOSE WHO MADE THE MEAL

PAUSE FOR PICTURES

THE LONG DRIVE HOME:  WE LEFT ZONE CONFERENCE EARLY TO GET OUR 'HALF WAY HOUSE' PREPARED FOR NEXT DAY FOR THE MISSIONARIES  WHO WERE HEADING TO QUEBEC AND OUR AREA SO THEY CAN REST AND HAVE A MEAL BEFORE CONTINUING ON THEIR JOURNEY

A PREPARATION DAY DISTRICT ACTIVITY

LUNCH AT ZOBELLS

A HIKE AROUND PETE'S DAM

FINDING A WATERFALL

AN OUTDOOR TESTIMONY MEETING

WINDING DOWN THE DAY WITH SOCCER

ANOTHER DISTRICT MEETING IN PERSON

IMPRESSIVE HOW THESE YOUNG MISSIONARIES CAN TAKE SO MUCH RESPONSIBIILITY IN TRAINING AND TEACHING

 MISSIONARIES IN OUR DISTRICT ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.  IN JULY, BEFORE TRANFERS, WE HAVE 2 CANADIANS (that would be us), 1 FROM AUSTRALIA, 1 FROM ENGLAND, 4 FROM THE USA (2 UTAH, 1 IDAHO, 1 WYOMING),  1 FROM TAHITI AND 1 FROM MEXICO.  SOON WE WILL HAVE TWO LEAVING AND REPLACED BY A MISSIONARY FROM BRAZIL AND ONE FROM BELGIUM.

AT THE END OF THIS DISTRICT MEETING WE GAVE OUT OUR 'ZOBELL AWARDS' TO SPECIFICALLY NOTE A STRONG TRAIT OR TWO ABOUT EACH MISSIONARY.

MISSIONARIES IN THE DISTRICT GATHERING AROUND SISTER GARIKI SINGING GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN.  IN LESS THAN A WEEK FROM THIS MOMENT, SISTER GARIKI WILL HAVE COMPLETED HER 18 MONTH MISSION AND HEAD HOME FOR TAHITI TO BE REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES

Serious at a District Meeting (kind of)

HAVING FUN ON A PDAY

TEMISKAMING BRANCH CELEBRATING ELDER HANSEN'S BIRTHDAY

AN ANCIENT ORGAN, AN ABANDONED SILVER MINE, AND A DETERIORATED TENNIS COURT

BARB LEARNING ALL ABOUT POTATO GUNS FROM JACK PERRY

STEVE AT THE EARLTON FARM SHOW LEARNING ABOUT THIS 1926 MCCORMICK-DEERING THAT RUNS WELL AND HAS ALL ORIGINAL PARTS.  EVERYONE WAS IN THEIR FARM CLOTHES BUT US AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE WAY WE DRESSED BUT EVERYONE WANTED TO TALK TO US AND ASK WHO WERE WERE AND WHAT WE WERE DOING AT THE FARM SHOW!

AN APARTMENT CHECK IN NORTH BAY THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BRIEF TESTIMONY MEETING IN NATURE

A NUMBER OF TIMES EACH MONTH WE VOLUNTEER FOR MEALS ON WHEELS:  WE STARTED ASSIGNED TO DELIVER FOOD TO 2 PEOPLE BUT THEY SOON RAMPED US UP TO 13

BARB DISCUSSING TEMPLE SQUARE AT AN ANGLICAN BAKE SALE WITH A LADY WHO WENT ON HER HONEYMOON TO SALT LAKE MANY YEARS AGO

STUDYING PREACH MY GOSPEL AND GETTING READY FOR DISTRICT MEETING

FATHER'S DAY IN THE BRANCH:  BARB MAKES THE CAKE

WE EAT IT

THE SISTER MISSIONARIES FROM QUEBEC HAVE BEEN PRACTICING A PERFORMANCE FOR THEIR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASS.  THEY CAME TO OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX IN TEMISKAMING SHORES AND SANG A SONG ABOUT THE SAVIOR TO DIFFERENT GROUPINGS, WE TOOK THEM FROM ACTIVITY TO ACTIVITY IN OUR COMPLEX AND THEY SANG, AND SHOWED PERSONAL INTEREST IN ALL.  THE 30 SOME PEOPLE WHO HEARD THEM LOVED THE SPIRIT THEY RADIATED, CONSTANTLY ASK ABOUT THEM, AND WANT THEM TO COME BACK


THEY PERFORMED AT 'TEA'

THEY PERFORMED FOR THE PEOPLE IN PHYSIOTHERAPY


THEN PERFORMED A SECOND TIME AT TEA AFTER THE PERSON WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING A FIRE DRILL AT THE EXACT SAME TIME WENT AND GATHERED MORE PEOPLE TO 'COME AND SEE'

WE FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE A SMALL GARDEN:  2 LITTLE 4X4 PLOTS

STEVE PREPPING TO FEED THE MISSIONARIES

THE LOVE AND APPRECIATION FROM MISSIONARIES TOUCHES OUR HEARTS.  
a picture we found on our 'stolen' camera after they left:  thanks sister allred and sister gareeki



AND EVEN BRINGING FLOWERS FOR BARB AFTER A NICE MEAL AND A LECTURE FROM STEVE ON TREATING WOMEN WITH RESPECT:  THANKS ELDER DEWEESE AND ELDER HANSEN.  (THEY WERE BOTH GIVEN A ZOBELL CERTIFICATE AWARD FOR HONORING WOMANHOOD)

BARB TEACHING CAKE DECORATING AT A BRANCH ACTIVITY

BARB, ALWAYS MAKING CAKES FOR PEOPLE'S BIRTHDAYS TO HONOR THEIR LIFE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION AND LOVE FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM

FOR A TEMPORARY MOMENT IN TIME, WHILE ON OUR MISSIONS, WE ALL CLING TOGETHER AND WE FEEL LIKE FAMILY--UNTIL WE CAN ALL GET BACK TO THE FAMILIES WE LEFT AT HOME

DOING AN APARTMENT CHECK IN TIMMINS (JUST UNDER A 6 HOUR ROUND TRIP FOR US) MAKING SURE THEY ARE FULLY EQUIPPED BY ENSURING THEY GOT GOT UPGRADE OF LAMPS AND A VACUUM CLEANER AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM THE TREATS BARB MADE AND HAVE A TESTIMONY MEETING

AND ANOTHER APARTMENT CHECK IN VAL-D'OR, QUEBEC, (ANOTHER 6 HOUR ROUND TRIP FOR US IN THE OTHER DIRECTION) UPGRADING THEIR CURTAINS TO ENSURE DARKENED ROOMS AT NIGHT, PROVIDING A HOME COOKED MEAL AND HOLDING A BRIEF TESTIMONY MEETING

SINGING TOGETHER IN FRENCH

A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR MIKE IN KIRKLAND LAKE.  MIKE'S GOAL IS TO GIVE A BOOK OF MORMON AWAY EACH WEEK.  

RELAXING FOR A  BRIEF MOMENT IN OUR APARTMENT


WE ARE ALL IN REMOTE AREAS AND SOMETIMES GET FEELING ISOLATED SO IT IS NICE TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER

MAKE SURE YOU GET A PIECE OF CAKE BEFORE YOU LEAVE




NICE TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK FROM THE MISSIONARIES



ELDER DEWEESE TRANSFERRED TO NIAGARA FALLS

SISTER GARIKI TRANFERED TO TAHITI--COMPLETED HER 18 MONTH MISSION

WE HAVE GROWN CLOSE TO THE MEMBERS IN OUR TEMISKAMING BRANCH AND HAVE COME TO LOVE THEM.  THE BRANCH IS SMALL AND TIGHT KNIT.  ONE, TWO OR A FEW IN A TOWN, THE BRANCH IS ABOUT 2-3 HOURS SQUARE.  PEOPLE LIVE SO FAR APART THEY ARE DELIGHTED WHEN THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE TOGETHER.  BUT OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS THREE MEMBERS HAVE PASSED AWAY WHICH HAS JOLTED THE BRANCH.  NOW, SISTER VOTTERO IS MOVING TO HALIFAX.  ANOTHER 'JOLT' TO THE BRANCH.  THE LAST SACRAMENT MEETING FOR SISTER VOTTERO JUST PRIOR TO HER MOVE TO HALIFAX, WARRENTED A POT LUCK GATHERING AFTER MEETINGS TO WISH HER WELL AND SAY 'GOODBYES'

MARCH RS CELEBRATION HELD AROUND THE FIRST OF MAY DUE TO A DEATH/FUNERAL IN MARCH







WE HAVE COME TO KNOW, BEFRIEND, APPRECIATE AND SERVE THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX

OUR RESIDENT MANAGERS, SOON TO BE PARENTS

AN APARTMENT GATHERING

WE GOT A DOOR PRIZE:  HATS!!

STEVE WAS CONSCRIPTED TO BBQ FOR THE GATHERING

'TEA' WITH THE LADIES (AND A FEW MEN)

CLEANING STAFF HAVE BECOME OUR GOOD FRIENDS

VISITING PASTOR MIKE IN THE HOSPITAL.  HE LIVES IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX BUT SPENT A FEW MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH AMPUTATIONS, DIALYSIS, EYE OPERATIONS.  YET ALWAYS CHEERFUL AND UPBEAT.  HE HAS BECOME A DEAR FRIEND.



NOW WAIT A MINUTE.  STEVE'S NEVER BEEN TO A BABY SHOWER IN HIS LIFE AND NOW----THIS IS STEVE SPEAKING AT OUR APARTMENT'S RESIDENT MANAGER'S BABY SHOWER, OFFERING A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASKING GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON THE MOTHER AND CHILD

BARB, OF COURSE, MADE THE BEARS



OVERALL, SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD A CHALLENGING, BUSY BUT MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A MISSION, TO SERVE OUR SAVIOR BY SERVING OUR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN, ALL OF THEM CHILDREN OF GOD.  A LOT OF HARD WORK BUT NO REGRETS.