Week 8 - Life in Pictures

Sorry this week has been crazy, but good news! I have my camera!!!! So this means I have pictures now and I can cheat and use my pictures to remember what happened :) 

First the Pictures I wanted to send last week:

My First Time at Tim Horton's , we at Tim Bits and it was the literal best! 

​The time we did planning on mini chairs in a members basement because they really wanted us to eat dinner with them :) Also my cute companions (Sister Zobrist (left) and Sister Bascom (right))

​Eating Poutine for the first time :) This is a Quebec classic! It features fries, with cheese curds and gravy! Sounds gross, but it's actually really, really good. 

​So where we live in, we're basically surrounded by a national park. We literally walked 15 minutes from our appartment and were in the woods, by a river, eating wild raspberries. 

Quebec is literally all the things I love in one place! French, green gorgeous landscape, BERRIES ( I think I almost went through an entire carton of blueberries by myself) history, diversity, really good food and crazy wonderful people! ​

So every Weekly Planning day we have a tradition where we wear head scarves and make Arepas. Arepas are basically cornmeal made into cakes, fried and stuck in the oven. Then you put tuna and beans in them along with anything else your heart desires. They're amazing :) 

​So while we were planning one day, it started raining like nobodies business. Here in Quebec the Quebecois have a saying: " Il pluie comme les clous" which means it rains like nails! IT'S SO TRUE! It rained like I've never seen it rain before and then literally 20 minutes later it was sunny! We never know what the weather is going to do!

Quotes of the Week: 

Sr. Zobrist: 

To the tune of "Let us All Press on" 
Let us all pray now before Sister Smith falls out 
Of that Grandpa chair that's broken over there
Sister Bascom is sitting there spelling pierre not priere 
But that's okay because she's still great 

Chorus 

On guard, voici nos ennemies (points to Soeur Bascom and I) 
Courage nous avons Bascom, Smith 
We will head not what the wicked (points again) may say 
But alone the lord we will obey!

Sr Bascom:

*Pokes Sister Zobrists face
"Fishie! Why are you sleeping!"

Sr Smith:

* Shrieks 
"Sorry that was involuntary" 

Jaqueline (our Moins Actif (inactive)):

To the GPS: "Tais-Toi...... SHUT UP!!!"

Miracle Moment:

I think I mentioned Tanya last week, we met her while walking back from dropping our investigator off at the bus stop. We all felt impressed to stop her and didn't. All of a sudden Sister Zobrist stopped and walked back to talk to her. 

We finally set up an appointment and saw her yesterday. Apparently she had been praying that day to find more peace, and that afternoon we stopped her and gave her a Prince of Peace card! She was super excited about the Book of Mormon, and she commited to be baptised!!!! We're all so excited to meet with her again! 

Other News:

We had 3 investigators at church :) including one  of the african families we have been teaching! 

I spoke in church and didn't die! And people understood me! 

Anyway, it's been really tough, but great here! I've realized more and more that when something seems to be going wrong and you feel like you can't do it, it's going to be a great day of miracles :) 

When I first came on my mission I thought that I wasn't allowed to at all worry about myself, something my district leader as told me is that if you're at a high stress level, your missionary work is to calm down. You can't feel the spirit when your stressed and so therefore you can't do the Lord's work. I thought that was really cool. 

As missionaries we have to have the spirit with us at all times otherwise we literally can't do our work. The Lord doesn't want us to be stressed, when we have faith in Him we are happier and can do the things He needs us to do, whether that be missionary work or life in general :) 

I love you all! Have an amazing week! 

Love,

Sister Smith

Week 7: I'm in Canada!!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS IM FINALLY IN MY MISSION!!! 

But first.... an update on my solo experience....

So fun story about later in the week...  they took ALL of my desks in my classroom except for mine! So my wonderful companions took this picture: 

My old companions are in the Blue (Sister Rammell) and Red (Sister Hunt) )

Alright on to the good stuff:

Wednesday:

I woke up at 3:25 am grabbed my stuff and my wonderful companions and we walked to drop me off. I was on the bus with 4 Elders who were flying to LA to get their visas. They were going to Angolla Africa speaking Portugese, and they were super nice and helped me with my luggage. 

I got on the plane and flew to Tronoto. It was really weird being alone, but in Utah people recognized me as a missionary and were super nice. In Toronto I picked up my visa which was kinda scary, but the guy helping me was really nice and I got my visa in like 20 minutes which was a miracle :) 

On my flight to Montreal I sat by this professor from UVU. She was not a member, but her daughter is a convert, we taked about books and good teachers. I was super nervous so I was really grateful for her! After I got to Montreal I waited for my luggage, unfortunately one of my suitcases was on another flight, but it was actually a miracle because it was the suitcase with all my winter clothes! 

Sister Phillips found me and we went to the Mission Home. THE PHILLIPS ARE THE NICEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET! They are honestly so kind and spiritually strong :) They stopped by a patisserie and we got pain au chocolat :) Then I ate dinner with them and they dropped me off at another sisters apparetment in Montreal (since it was just me) I got to stay with Sister Austin (from the MTC) and Sister Dinge! They're amazing :)

Thursday: 

The STL's took me to the Mission Office were I did training and got ready to go. I was able to join in on MLC (Mission Leaders Conference) annd meet my actual STL's and ZL's, Sister Piscitello and Banthoud (both from France and wonderful :)) and Elder Barriero (MY MTC TEACHER'S GREENIE!) and Landetta!

The STL's drove me to my new area..... QUEBEC CITY WEST (AKA the farthest north a sister can go) If you're reading this on my blog, the background picture is in my Zone! Quebec is absolutely gorgeous! 

My new companions are Sister Zorbrist (has 3 weeks left and is from California, she's had 6 areas which is basically unheard of!) and Sister Bascom (from Alberta and is 6 months into her mission) THEY'RE SERIOUSLY THE BEST!

Friday: 

Sister Zorbrist and Sister Bascom made me green crepes (because I'm a greenie) we had them with blueberries and REAL MAPLE SYRUP (from a can :)) 

I had my first 3 lessons with investigators. Oumar and his family from Centeral Africa, Victorine and her family from Centeral Africa (they all speak Songlo but unfortunately there is no translation of the BoM in their language) and Isabelle (17, Quebecois, amazing, and so intelligent!) 

Miracle Moment: 

After Isabelle's lesson, we walked her to her bus. As we were walking past we past this girl and two younger kids. I felt prompted to talk to them, but I thought maybe it was just me and didn't. All of a sudden Sister Zobrist turns around and starts trying to stop her. We all started talking and we gave her a Prince of Peace card. She almost started tearing up, and told us she really needed peace in her life. We got her contact info, and we are going to try and have a lesson with her, that really taught me to follow the spirit, no matter how akward it may be! 

After this, we went to a dinner appointment with a recent convert of 4 years at TIM HORTONS!!!!!!!! It was my first time eating there, it was the best!!! I have a picture, but I forgot my cord so I'll have to send it next week :( 

It was there that I realized something.... I CANNOT FOR MY LIFE UNDERSTAND QUEBECOIS! It's way cool, but with Africans and French I can understand about 70% of what they say, but with the Quebecois it's like 30-40%... Another thing to work on! 

It's funny because everything with an accent circumflex (basically like this: ^) they pronouce like the letter I in english.... so bapteme (^ over the first e) is pronounced in french like bah-tem, but in Quebecois it sounds like bah-time. It's the same with meme (^ over the first e), which is pronouced like mime! 

After dinner we heart attacked some members doors :) 

Saturday:

We taught MARCEL!!!! He's so awesome, he's deaf, but he's learing sign language, sister Bascom is FLUENT in sign language and she teaches him lessons. We were with another member who's learining sign language too. SO COOL! They're thinking of starting a sign language class on Thursday's in our ward :) I'm super pumped! 

Afterwards we has dinner with some recently activiated (by themsleves) members, the Dutruel's! We had heart attacked their door the day before and they were having a hard time, so it really made their day. They framed our hearts and hung them up :) They're amazing! Their daughter Florence (who's our investigator) made us these amazing handmade notebooks and drew a flowers on them! She's seriously so talented (yet again I took a picture and I forget my cord)

Their cat, Spock, also looks EXACTLY like my cat at home! We were able to share a quick message and they walked us to our car. THEY'RE SO AMAZING! 

After dinner we went over to our recent converts house Florencio! Florencio is from the Phillipines and speaks Tagolag and English (thank goodness!) He's AMAZING (yes I realize I've said that about everyone) I didn't know him before, but he's come a long ways and is so happy in the gospel. He just wants to serve! 

We taught a quick lesson and he let us try one of his creations, tuna spaghetti! It wasn't bad actually :) We also had "ice cream sandwhiches" which is literally ice cream in a dinner roll. (it was actually really good :))

Sunday: 

The councillor to the Bishop asked me to get up and bear my testimony. It was really short, but I did it! Gospel Principles and Relief Society was great. during Relief Society I sat next to a sister who is fluent in English so she trasnlated for me :) Her daughter just got off a mission from Japan and is so nice! She's coming teaching with us this week :) 

After church we went and heart attacked a member in the wards door with Florenico! They caught us running down the street and we came in. They fed us all pizza and crepes :) Since we had to do weekly planning, and they wanted us to stay, they let us plan in their basement (yet another great picture I can't send). It was hilarious because we were planning around a kid sized plastic table!

Anyway, an honestly solid, crazy nerve-wracking week, but I'm in an amazing ward, with amazing members, with amazing investigators and just overall amazing people! 

The gospels true, I see it changing the lives of the people we meet and the members here. I've shared the highlights, but there have been some tough and crazy times too, but I'm excited to be here and to learn! 

Love,

Sister Smith

MTC - Week 6: Solo Sister and Farewells

A lot of change happened this week, but I'm so excited that I got to be part of it all! By the time I email next I will be in Montreal Canada!!! 

En Tous Cas (Anyways) 

Saturday (Juillet 1): 

 It was Canada Day, but since the stadium of Fire was having their fireworks show it was an honorary Fourth of July for my district, as they wouldn't be in the country for the real Fourth of July! As it was basically our last class together, Soeur Wall took us outside and we all sat in a circle and said one nice thing about everyone. At the end, she took out a picture of Jesus and we all went around the circle bearing our testimony of Him in our lives. The Spirit was so strong and it was a really good way to end. 

Afterwards as zones we talked about religious freedom and then went and watched the firworks from the our buildings (the new buildings have nice big windows, so it was really cool!) and we got to stay up for an extra HALF AN HOUR! Hahaha totally not worth it, but it was something special. 

 Sunday (Juillet 2):

 We sang our song for the rest of our zone. Elder Hall and Soeur Stucki did the arrangements for the music and Elder Moore conducted. The song is called a Missionary's Farewell and is mixture of "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" (French, 1 verse), the entire EFY Medley (in english) and the last part of "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again" (in french)... It was honestly so good. 

Then that night our entire zone sang "Souvien-Toi" which is a beautiful hymn only in French that I would challenge everyone to look up! It was really hard, because it felt like I was going with them. Afterwards,  I helped my some of my district pack up. 😥

Monday (Juillet 3):

 Everyone left! It was so sad, I didn't cry (but only because Soeur Ortiz told me she'd punch me if I did 😂) Then Frere Brooks and I dropped them off at the bus and walked back to our classroom. Even though it was hard saying good bye (and awkward being a district of 1) it is such a blessing to get one on one time with my wonderful teachers. We set goals and I worked on pronunciation, teaching, grammar, conjugation, you name it! 

Funny moments: 

I couldn't say the word gagner (to win), so Frere Brooks was trying to find a word that sounded like it and we came up with "gagner like kayne" 😂

Tuesday (Juillet 4): 

THE FOURTH OF JULY! Kinda uneventful in terms of 'Merica, but we did sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for choir which was super cool! It was the version that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings! 

I also got to know my new district better (plus they're all going to Montreal)! Soeur Ramhill and Soeur Hunt are my new companions, both really funny and amazing people. Hermana Garcia and Soeur Ashcraft are the other sisters in the district! 

Hermana Garcia is from Mexico and will be serving French, Spanish and English speaking, Soeur Ashcraft is hilarious and is from Idaho! The other Elders in our district are Elder Fourie ( from South Africa/ Australia and speaks fluent  Afrikaan) Elder Kim (from South Korea, speaks fluent Mandrin and Korean) Elder Christensen (from Moroni, UT), Elder Bishop (Idaho), Elder Bunting (UT), Elder Menzel (from Germany knows Soeur Gruse) and Elder Davis (from Provo) 

They're so great! I'm not with them a whole ton (other than the sister's), but they're all amazing and are going to do great things in Montreal! 

Wednesday - Thursday -  (Juillet 5-6):

I'm sooo french fried! I've learned so much in the last few days! I'm learning French one on one for 6 hours a day which is amazing, and exhausting! My teachers are absolutely amazing! 

With Frere Brooks I've learned all the tenses in French (including Plus de Parfait and Futur Anterior, really easy, but I was really excited about it) that was the longest conversation that I've ever had all in French! I think I know a lot more than I think I do, and it takes me a while, but I can almost say anything I want to say. Honestly the gift of tongues is so real. I see it especially in the brand new missionaries (my district) they learn so much so fast, they inspire me every day to keep trying! 

Usually we just read from the Book of Mormon and I translate verses and ask questions on grammar! It also helps with pronunciation, and learning how to explain doctrine to investigators. Yesterday we identified the Passe Simple ( a crazy tense that is only used in writing), so many grammar rules and new words come from just reading! The Book of Mormon is seriously the best book.

Yesterday Soeur Wall and I did door approaches. Basically I stood outside my classroom and Soeur Wall would come to the door and pretend to be a different person each time. It helped so much with my confidence. Some people were super nice and let me in, others were closed off. One time Soeur Wall came to the door as an American, and I honest to goodness couldn't do a door approach in English 😂 (not that it's any better in French) 

Afterwards we talked about my experiences and Soeur Wall bore her testimony of the power of "porte a porte" (door to door). Honestly I was so touched, and it really gave me a new perspective on missionary work. 

I guess my spiritual thought for this week is to make sure that your humble and teachable. There's a reason that Heavenly Father gives us weaknesses, because it helps us rely on Him and come closer to Him. I was having trouble with being prideful this week. During our Book of Mormon reading we read in Alma 5, and even though I couldn't understand it all, many great conversations came out of it! 

This work is hard, but it is so worth it, and I feel so blessed to be apart of this and get to know so many amazing, wonderful, Christ-like people. 

 Love,

Sister Smith