Happy St. Jean-Baptiste Day!

So yesterday was basically Quebec Day!

     The poutine was good...? Fries with gravy and cheese! It was pretty good, but I was sort of expecting a snack, but here it's like a meal. By the end of the plate I was feeling pretty sick, and felt sick after. Also, it felt embarrassing to be eating something so fattening, but we were in a restaurant full of people doing it...ha ha. I kind of felt like we were all eating our own tub of ice cream.
     Sister U-fa does not have a licence so I'm driving our car. Did I mention that she has hair down to the back of her knees? And we are changing mission presidents next week!!! President Patrick and his family are arriving this weekend. We're so excited!
     Last week we had a member lesson with a lady named Anne-Elizabeth. She's from Haiti and we brought a member with us, Sister Morah. Sister Morah is an ex-nun! She became a nun, but they eventually kicked her out because she asked a lot of questions and could not get answers. There was so much she wanted to know that they couldn't help her with. She searched and searched, and was so confused because she LOVES her bible. But something was missing. Anyway, the spirit was so strong hearing her testify of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, how when she found it she just ate it up and how it just makes sense. How the Book of Mormon and the Bible fit together. It was amazing. She knows her stuff, and she is so committed to the Lord and she loves the gospel so much.

Hello from the Island of Montreal!

     Wow, lots of changes! On Wednesday we got up at 5 to get to the bus station by 7, to take a two hour bus ride to Montreal where we met and exchanged and met our new companions. Sister U-fa, my new companion,  is from Tahiti. She learned English in the MTC and is still working on it. I feel blessed to have a native french companion. I am starting to roll my r's and speak Tahitian french. Sister U-fa is very kind, patient and loving and very people oriented. She has been in Canada for 6 months and is still in her first area.
     Ville-Marie is such a stark contrast from Gatineau. Apparently the Ottawa zone is nicknamed the 'land of milk and honey' and I have seen that already. Yesterday we had one investigator at church, compared to the six we had last week in Gatineau. Sister U-fa was here for one whole transfer before she had anyone at church. But, I have been lectured plenty about how our attitude is what is most important and to not have any pre-conceived notions about an area. I'm remaining positive. Our little branch is so small. We had probably 40 people at church yesterday, eight of which were missionaries. Yes, we have eight missionaries, a senior couple, two groups of Elders and us!
     It is hard with all of these new investigators that I don't know and I am not familiar with their progress and history. I miss my friends in Gatineau. I am having to reaffirm why I am here a bit...new everything and the french is really difficult, and we are speaking it ALL THE TIME. I am glad I brought my farewell talk because that has helped a lot. It's a work in progress. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Yep. I've got lots of room for improvement.
     John was so sweet. When I left, he gave me one of those books about Gatineau Park that includes some very pretty photography of the animals and nature. We are both nature nuts. I was very touched! I really hope he finds the truth and happiness in the gospel. I think he will.
     Sister U-fa heard that I haven't heard poutine yet so she insisting that we fix that this afternoon, It's basically french fies with gravy and cheese curds. Everyone eats it here. There are 'potaterie's' on every corner. I'll let you know...

     *DRUM ROLL*.....And I'm off to the "Ile de Montreal"!

     Things here are great! So great...Too great in fact...I don't want to leave, which is probably the reason the Lord wants me to leave, being a missionary isn't about being content. I am getting transferred to Montreal and I leave on Wednesday. The area I will be serving in is called Ville Marie. My new companion is Sister U-Fa. She is from Tahti! She is Elder Sinjoux's cousin. He is one of the Elders that serve in Gatineau with us.
     For the most part , our investigators are doing good. Daniel is doing really well. He is so sincere and has such a good heart. Sue went to church last week and really liked it! We are meeting with her tomorrow. John is doing awesome. He keeps talking like "If I get baptised, I want to..." So that is really fun! I'm bummed that I won't be here to see how that pans out... I'm determined to have a positive attitude with this new change even though I'm loving it here and I love Sister Smith to death!
     This week on Tuesday we contacted ALL day! I was assigned to work with Sister Martinez, and it was so fun. It was all in English, except two people we talked to from Haiti, and that was fun because since Sister Martinez is new and only been in an English speaking area, It was just me talking to them in French! Street contacting is so fun! I love the Lord's work, and getting to talk to people about a message that's so crucial and has the potential to bring so much happiness! I love it! Already I have seen changes in lives, John's changing bit by bit as he keeps his engagements and visits with us.
     The Ottawa zone did so awesome contacted the most people , 3,228 in one day! WOO! So fun!
     Pray for me as I encounter these changes! You are always in my prayers and we pray lots of times a day...

      Greetings from your favorite "Hull's Angel"...Hehe....Hull is the township we live in.

      It is June already! It is summer here. It is so warm, and humid...Which is new for me.

     Dad asked what a typical P-day is like so here goes- We wake up at normal time and exercise, study personally and in our companionship then we basically have from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. to do whatever we need to do. Those things usually consist of laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, writing letters etc. A couple of weeks ago all the Sisters in the zone got together and visited the parliament and then had frozen yogurt after.  At 6 we continue proselyting.
     Since I have been on my mission the importance of goals has really pressed on me. Sister Smith sat down and made some visions...Overarching goals that we want to reach while we're on our mission and while we are together. Some of them include things like being fluent in French, being the most faithful (optimistic & diligent) missionaries, to laugh more and have a good time, to have members be trusting enough of us to give us referrals...And then I made some personal visions like being more courageous, being more courageous, being brave enough to talk to EVERYONE, and looking for the best in everyone...I want to follow the promptings of the spirit in any situation without delay. I want to exactly obedient, leave thank you notes for everyone, memorize a scripture a week etc.
     This week we had a good week! Really good. We had SIX investigators at church! It was so awesome, but also so busy! We felt a little like chickens with our heads cut off. We had Daniel, Brian (who has a baptismal date for June 29th), Ricky, Sue and Jocelyne. So it was a busy Sunday but very rewarding.
     Silly story of the week: On Wednesday we taught Ricky at Lake Leamy, which is nearby. There is a beautiful little trail around the lake that we walked while we talked. (Just in case you forgot, we not allowed to teach male investigators alone, we either have to have another female member with us or be in another public place...hence the lake) it was beautiful...but Sister Smith and I got DEVOURED by les moustiques! That night neither of us slept very well, we were itching ALL NIGHT!!! In the morning Sister Smith asked desperately if we could use our exercise time to run to the store and buy some itch relief cream. We did, and it worked...kind of. By afternoon Sister Smith's legs looked like Marge's in the second Harry Potter movie. Her feet also swelled up really bad. Both our legs looked pretty bad. We called Sister Cannon and we took an emergency trip to the pharmacy for some anti-allergy pills, some hydrocortisone cream, etc. Her feet are still a little swollen but the itchiness gone down!
     I know the church is SO TRUE and it really is just Christ's church...Today! There is nothing I've ever done more fulfilling than talking to EVERYONE about it and helping them see that it can bless their lives.

     My weekend was good! Really good! We had an awesome week, we almost doubled our previous weekly actuals as far as lessons taught! Also, we ran into John and he "un-dropped" us! He now has a baptismal date for June 29th> I really hope things stay good with him. I guess he had decided to drop us because he had come across some anti-mormon that had said some crazy stuff how we think black people are evil because of the curse of the Lamanites...We answered his questions and he is back!
     We have also been teaching a man named Brian. He has a solid testimony, has read the Book of Mormon but has not been baptized because so far he has been unable to quit smoking. Pray for him this week. We are going to try to help him quit starting on Wednesday. He really wants to quit.
     We have been working really hard and talking to EVERYONE! We fall into bed every night, exhausted. Even though we are so tired we have had a hard time sleeping...I have woken up several times from dreams where we were teaching lessons and I'd wake up and be so confused and panicked that we weren't working...and then realize that it was the middle of the night and it was ok to relax. Silly, silly. Last night Sister Smith was talking in her sleep and she woke both of us by asking some invisible person if they'll commit to praying about the truth of Joseph Smith. Hahaha! So classic!
     Funny story-Yesterday Sister Smith was talking to a lady and accidentally told her (in French) that the book of Mormon is a girlfriend to the Bible...instead of companion. I could not help but laugh once the lady was out of earshot.Whoops! Copine, college, same difference..

     News for the week...We had an EARTHQUAKE! (or...in French...un tremblement du terre)! Pretty crazy! The other morning Sister Smith and I were in companionship study and everything started shaking! We thought the Shultzke's were moving furniture but we later found out that it was like a 5.2. Fun stuff.
     On Tuesday we had a zone conference. It was wonderful! We got to see the Cannon's again, which was wonderful. Also, that afternoon I went on my first split. I was sent out with Sister Robles and I drove the car! Eeks!
     We had a good week.There was a baptism in the YSA ward on Friday and after a miracle and lots of phone calls we were able to get Jerome to go. We have been teaching him and his roommate for about two weeks now. It was awesome! I think he felt the spirit and got to know some of the YSA members. On Sunday we had four amis (investigators....or amis de l'english..friends of the church) at church. John, Jerome, Anne-Marie and Jocelyne. Then Sunday evening it all fell apart. Daniel, our investigator who has been trying to stop smoking called to tell us he was dropping us. And then when we met with Jerome he told us he mostly just wanted to be our friend. He said he didn't really think that the first vision was possible and he had other things to pray about. His roommate had been feeling the same way.Then this morning John called us and told us that the church was not right for him. Rough! Four of our best investigators...poof! Gone!And since we're opening this area we really didn't have very many. Man. Rough. I am feeling pretty sad about that. Not discouraged, just sad. But Sister Smith told me that she thinks it's because a miracle is headed our way. So we're both really hopeful and excited for that. Pray for us to find people in our area that are prepared! We know they are here...somewhere! As Sister Smith would say, "best treasure hunt EVER!"

     Okay, wow! It's been a crazy, crazy past 5 days. (Five days? Really? Only five days?!) So, first. First of all! I'm in Gatineau,Quebec! It is about two hours away from Montreal. It is part of the Ottowa zone! We are in the only French speaking area in the Ottowa zone and right across the river from Canadian parliament. We see it on the way to and from our district meetings.It is beautiful here! It is summer. I love it! It's so green! Not too many trees, but more than Utah, that's for sure! Our area covers Hull, Alymer and up to Chelsea.
     My companion is Sister Smith! She is from Draper, Utah. She is a hard worker, that's for sure. She has only been out three months! She has had six years of French. We are opening the Gatineau area to Sisters! Because it is a new area, we don't have any inversigators....except one, Jocelyn is the one investigator we did inherit. She is a super sweet lady, I love her to death but she has been investigating the church for 35 years! Wow! I really hope we can meet her needs and help her find peace.
     We live in the basement of a member's home, Spring and Lancer Shultzke. They are so noce. SO NICE. The apartment in their basement is brand new! We are so spoiled! Brand new new car, apartment, phone etc.
     So because it is a new area, we are knocking! All day! Knocking, knocking, knocking. It's hard  work, especially when nobody wants to talk to you and you're trying not to feel like you're bothering people...But it's good. Sister Smith is good at keeping me positive. It is hard work, much harder than I expected. But I am happy. I't really awesome knowing I'm where Heavenly Father wants me to be and I'm doing what he wants me to do! I can't ask for much more than that. :)