September 8, 2014

I've almost been on my mission for almost a month. That's crazy, right? Oh man, when I got to Toronto I thought that first week would never end. But it did, and then the following weeks have gone by pretty fast! I am a lot happier these days, I promise! I laugh more, so that's good! My favorite times are when I am with other groups of missionaries or ward members or meeting new people in the streets. The first 4.5 hours of each day I'm just with my companion. We wake up and exercise for the first half hour of the day. We then have an hour to get ready and eat breakfast. So yeah, doesn't take me that long so I normally clean a little bit. Our apartment is looking a million times better! I scrubbed the nasty bathtub for 2 hours last p-day and bought a new shower curtain (because our last one was moldy) and now I don't get grossed out ever time I shower! Anyways we start personal study at 8, which I love! The Book of Mormon is seriously so awesome. It's amazing to see how much the situations from ancient times can help us in our day. I find scriptures all the time that really strengthen and motivate me. My testimony of the Book of Mormon is way stronger than it's ever been. No one believes it here. I've had so many people start laughing at me when I tell them what it is. Oh man, they are missing out. I just finished Alma where there are so many amazing missionaries who are examples to me. At 9 we have companionship study. But at 11 we eat lunch then leave for the day. YAHOO! About 50% of our appointments fall through. We normally have about 4 or 5 each day with investigators or less active members. And people just don't show up. Or they are home with the TV on and ignore all of our knocks. RUDE! So we walk around the neighborhoods a lot talking to everyone who is outside. So many people don't speak English or maybe that's an excuse not to talk with us, not sure. I have a lot of stories so maybe I'll start with scary, creepy and end with the good stuff!

ESL - Soooo I teach English. Yeah, I know. Super scary. It's a service this area has so we can find new investigators. We teach them Tues and Sat for 2 hours then invite them to church. We have lesson plans each week and just go over new vocabulary then do some exercises. My companion and I were teaching this man from Brazil. But he brought me cookies and said he would come to church if he could sit with me... So I'm now teaching a class with all old ladies! ha Elder Vang is teaching the Brazilian now.

DRUNK MAN - People are always drunk here! It's weird, I miss Provo and safe neighborhoods! The other day I was on the bus at a stop and this guy was coming on. He missed the step into the bus and completely fell. He had a grocery bag and all the items fell out. He started laughing so hard! Like why? He just fell hard. I'm sure the next day he felt it. But I got up and started helping him with his items and putting them back in his bag. It was full of cigarettes and beer cans. One of the cans broke so I had beer on my hands. I washed them like 5 times before my next appointment but I could totally still smell it. The whole time I was helping him he just kept laughing so hard and telling me I was so beautiful. I was glad my stop was next.

DATE - I was talking to this man from Jamaica on the bus. I would say something about the gospel then he would ask me a personal question. I decided it wasn't going anywhere so I gave him a card so I could move and talk to someone else. When I gave him the card he was like, "Well hey, it was nice talking to you. I see your number is on this card. I'll give you a call so we can meet up sometime." Ha I told him if he wants to learn more about Jesus Christ to give us a call. He hasn't called, but that's OK.

SCARY LADY - On our way to an appointment I was sitting across from this Lady who seemed super antsy. We were in crazy bad traffic and traveling like 5 miles an hour. I asked her how her day was, then she talked to me for the next 5 mins about how hard life was and how many addictions she had. She then went on to tell me that I was pretty and nice and I can't let any guy take advantage of me. She said it so loud and it was awkward because on the bus people don't talk, so everyone heard and looked at me. But it gets worse! She then started telling me about some illegal drugs that she had in her bag!! I was like, Um stop talking. I don't know what to say or do. After she told me that, people started looking at her so she ran off the bus, like into the streets!? I hope she made it home. 

I BROKE THE RULES AGAIN - The other day I'm on the bus. Yes, most things sketchy happen on the bus. But I started talking to this old man. He was very friendly and it was so refreshing that someone was listening to what I had to say. I looked up to see what stop was next and the next thing I knew, I felt a wet mouth on my face. Yes, he kissed my cheek!! Like it was slobbery and I was disgusted.

CUTE COUPLE - We want to know the ward members well so a lot of times when our appointments fall through we will see a member who lives in the area. The other night we went to the Jardeins. They are old, maybe in their 80's. She is very large and can't move, so he does all of the cooking, cleaning, everything!! We were just talking to Sister Jardein and Brother Jardein left but came back like 5 mins later with ice cream sundays for us! It was adorable. And the house was spotless!!! Sister Jardein said that he had mopped the floors the previous night before he put her to bed and told us how much he does for her and how much she loves him. While she was talking to us and sharing some experiences with us he just watched her a smiled. They were so in love and it was the cutest thing. I couldn't stop smiling.

JILL - Shoot, I'm obsessed with Jill! She came to church this week and stayed for all 3 hours! She weighs like 80 pounds and is just so sweet and always smiling. I sat with her during all of the meetings and she would ask such good questions. She is still planning on getting baptized on the 28th but she has never been swimming and is scared of water, so she's a little nervous! We fasted for her yesterday and are praying every day that she will feel comforted and calm about it. She cries all the time and it makes me want to cry. I hope I cry when she gets baptized!

SCRIPTURE - I love D&C 84:88. "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." So comforting. Sometimes I feel like I'm alone, even with my companion next to me. But I'm not!! 

 I love my zone!