Re: Vancouver Report

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!  This is so awesome!  You must just float off the ground when the email arrives! Are you dying to know where he's at?!  A family that used to live in our ward, and now lives in Langley were here last week for a family funeral so Laurell is now on the lookout for Josh!

xoxo

Nikie

Vancouver Report

http://www.lds.org/church/news/karl-tilleman-an-example-of-determination-and-endurance?lang=eng&country=ca

Family!

Well, it's only been a couple days since the last email, but the past couple days have been awesome. We saw a lot of miracles happen with the work!  Elder Smith knows the area really well, and since he is (almost certainly) leaving, I got a GPS, which is probably why the bank is wondering what's going on with my debit card. I haven't really used it too much other than that. But having a GPS will be nice, because Vancouver was not built in a grid system, unfortunately. You start to miss how easy things like "1290 E 200 S" are to find. It also seems like the tables have turned as far as weather goes! You are the ones that get to put up with snow and cold now. Occasionally it gets a little rainy, but that's about as bad as it gets. Everybody down here says "Oh, the temperatures may be higher here, but it's a 'wet' cold, so it's really worse here than it is up North". Those people have probably never been North. It's awesome down here. No complaints.

Miracle: usually at church, we will sit by one of our investigators attending, but this week, we were asked to help pass the Sacrament. As they were singing the Sacrament hymn, another two deacons showed up, and so we were no longer needed. Because we wanted to sit down quickly to not interrupt the Sacrament, we didn't sit by an investigator, we just moved to the back and sat in the overflow section, where we would otherwise never sit. When there was about 5 minutes left in the program, this man walks in and sits down next to us. I can smell cigarette smoke on him and so I know that he is not a member. My first thought is "I am going to baptize him." As soon as the program ends, we talk to him, and our conversation went kind of like this:
Us: "What brought you here?"
Him: "Uh... my path just kind of led me here."
And he went on to explain that although his dad was a pentecostal preacher, he felt like he had a lot of questions that just weren't answered. He had heard a lot of weird things about us, but he heard that we believed in prophets, so as he was walking past the church, he thought he would just come in to see what it was like. As soon as the service ended, he was about to leave, but because we were right by him were able to stop him and invite him to come to the Gospel Principles class. He really liked it, and now we're going to be meeting with him again this Tuesday. That was definitely a miracle.

Otherwise, the work is going really well! In the past, the Vancouver district has kind of been an anomaly in the mission because it has 2.7 million people in it and no investigators and not too much happening. The Lord has been really hastening the work in the past weeks though on the East side, and so I feel really blessed to have been able to see all of the progress and miracles happening. I'm excited for this upcoming month because, although there could always be more, there are about 4 people that are looking pretty solid to be baptized in February.

And transfer time is here! The call will come sometime today. Probably sooner than later, too, since they usually make the calls to the Lower Mainland first. My prediction is that I'm staying and Elder Smith is leaving, but I guess we'll find out for sure by some time later today! It's always a little exciting to figure out how the next 6 weeks of your life are going to be spent. You learn a lot from each area and companion. I think so far I have learned the importance of having patience and charity/ If you have contention in a companionship, you just aren't going to find success. Elder Smith had told me stories about how with previous companions in this area, they would get so heated that they would be too angry to go out and work, so they would just sit inside. If you get along with your companion, you'll have the spirit, you'll be able to work harder, and you will find success. If you can't, then you won't. Pretty simple.

Well, I certainly know that this is the Lord's work. We see so many different miracles each day that it is hard to keep track of them. I know that this gospel blesses lives, and I am so happy to be able to share it with God's children.

Well, I have got to write President Tilleman. Next week I will have to report on the transfer news and everything else that has gone on. I love you all, and I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Blotter

Transfer Day?

   Is it transfer day? Is it good bye to Elder Smith??  Can't wait to hear all about it, but will we have to wait a week?! Where is my Sis. Lambert in Vancouver? That was such a wonderful little tender mercy for me. I could just send a little text to her and I would know what was going on in minutes!   :) It will surely be interesting to hear about the changes taking place there. Hannah is so excited because her friend in her ward just got her call to Vancouver. She goes to the MTC in May.

    Well, all I can say it that, YES! I was a little worried last Monday, then Tuesday, then by Wednesday I almost called the Mission Home when I didn't hear from you. I know you are in a bit of a sketchy area anyway, then you go prancing through the AIDS capital of the world. What's a mom to do?? But, Oh my. That letter last week about Lee and the Lafawnduh situation! I laughed OUT loud at that. He must be quite a character. I can't believe all the the things you have going on in Vancouver. It sounds like you have some great people you are teaching. You are a happy, positive individual that probably is a great instrument in the Lord's hands. I didn't get your package send yet because I was waiting to here if you need anything specific. I'll just put a tie or two in there and get it sent. Oh, tonight I listened to messages and Lewiston State Bank called asking for you wanting to talk to you about your debit card. I'll call tomorrow. It hasn't been stolen or anything has it?  :o

     Well, we are sure thinking of you and praying for you. Dad got his Christmas present a little late (Thursday) and it sure came in handy. We are getting DUMPED on with snow right now and he's been out plowing like crazy. (John Deere Tractor)  Have an awesome week and good luck with your new companion!   Love, Mom

New Years Day at the Cabin.

Better Late than Never...

Well!

Hello, family! Sorry about this email being sent on a Thursday instead of Monday. This Monday, Elder Smith woke up with the flu, and he was pretty much in bed for 2 days. Kind of put a damper on the whole "missionary work" thing, but he's up and running now, so we're back in business! We have been so busy for the past couple days that we didn't have time to email until this morning. But, here we are! Better late than never. Sorry to keep you worrying, Mother. I am alive. Although I did have to travel through East Hastings (apparently, it's the AIDS capital of the world) yesterday to visit a hotel to remind Lee Reynard about the law of chastity. But we'll get to that later. The weather here is great! In fahrenheit it's usually around 40 degrees. It rains about... a third of the time, so not too bad. All in all, Vancouver is a great place to be in the winter.

It has been a pretty crazy past week and a half. We are finding a lot of people to teach, which is really great. We're teaching Norma, this first nations lady (who talks just like she walked off the LBN Reserve in Burns Lake) who apparently had a baptismal date years ago, but had to move away. We talked to her outside of a bus stop and now we're teaching her again and hopefully she'll be baptized in February! Our February is looking pretty busy. Today we have another appointment with Maria and 8 year old son, Gabriel. They are Filipino, but speak English pretty well. She has had a really rough life and is suffering from depression, so it is really a blessing that she works with a former bishop of the Spanish ward here, because he was able to refer her to us. We're also teaching this East Indian woman, Priscilla, who is looking for spiritual fulfillment. The list goes on, but I think the only actual Canadian person we're teaching is Frank, this old guy in his 70s who isn't keeping his commitments very well. We have definitely been blessed with amazing people to teach over the past few weeks. Elder Smith is annoyed that the work is picking up right as he is probably about to leave. (Transfer calls are this Monday already!) People seem to be coming out of the woodwork. We really do see miracles all the time. This church is so true.

Anyways, about Lee Reynard. It's a LaFawnduh situation. I don't know how else to describe it. The Sunday 2 weeks ago, he met a woman playing some online game. (He described it as one where all your friends and family can play and buy each other as "pets". Whatever that means.) And... now they're getting married this Saturday (...or they were). Her name is Pricilla, (he still always accidentally calls her Patricia). She is African, and probably weighs about 250 pounds, and is from Sasketoon, Saskatchewan. He bought her ring from Wal Mart for $38 (plus tax). We finally met her yesterday because he brought her to district meeting. It was very uncomfortable. And... they still are arguing about everything, like which city they are going to live in, but they claim that they are in love and that this is the right thing for them to do. We got a call this morning from Lee and found out that apparently he was married at some point in England, and he never got around to filing the paperwork for a divorce, and so now he can't legally be married in Canada. So the wedding for this Saturday had to be canceled. After Priscilla took a leave of absence from school (she's become a nurse or something) to come down for a honeymoon that they will no longer be able to take. The whole situation is very awkward. We will leave it at that.

And well, Mother, to answer your question on if we're "fed by the members", here is a case study: yesterday for lunch, a member took us to Burger King and made us eat 2 whopper combos. And then a different member took us out that evening for Ethiopian food (which is really good, but I think mine had raw ground beef in it. I haven't died yet, either way) and deep fried mars bars. So...
1) The members feed us.
2) I need to start dieting, or something.

Quite honestly, as far as the life of Elder Blotter, I am feeling quite spoiled. Really. That is what it is. The work is going well. I'm getting along with my companion. We're finding people to teach and many are progressing. The member work is going really well, and we're actually finding a lot of people to teach from referrals and things. Other missionaries call us all the time with potential investigators. We're working hard and the results are immediate, not delayed like it has been at previous times in my mission. In short, I'm thinking that there is going to be a change this week as far as transfers go, and something challenging is going to happen. Not sure exactly what, but I'm thinking this might be a calm before a storm. We'll find out Monday!

Well, I've got to write to President Tilleman. I hope that everybody has a great week! Love you all lots.

Elder Blotter

......

Josh!     Are you out there? Did you forget about us this week? When you are in a little bit of a sketchy area your mother needs to hear right away.  :)

Monday

Good Morning Elder Blotter!

       How are you this fine morning? It is 9 below zero in Hyde Park right now and I feel sorry for our mule. Brrrr. And the deer keeping eating all her hay and oats. How was your week? I've been thinking about what you said last week about how it felt more like you were part of a family in Burns Lake. I am glad you began your mission there, it was such a great place with good people. But I think being in a big city with all that goes on will make the time fly by. I hope you are keeping your spirits up with Elder Smith.  :)  We had our local missionaries over last night for dinner and they were a little older. One was 24 and one 23. That is weird to think they could serve with an 18 year old. And these two elders served before together in Soda Springs earlier in their mission. Interesting, huh?

    Did Dad tell you that Eric Holt received his call? He received it on January 19, one day after you and he enters the MTC on June 12, one day before you. And he was called to the Madrid, Spain Mission. Josh Bennion is going to Edmonton, Canada and Jaron Idso is going to England. I am just walking out the door to Zumba so I'll finish the e-mail in an hour.  :) 

PS   Did you get the chance to look for a GPS?  I am sending a package today. Anything you need in it?

 

 

Hello

Well, hello!

All week the weather reports on the TVs in the SkyTrain stations said that "flurries" were in the forecast, but every day was just wet and cold. We were about to lose faith in seeing any snow, but when we opened the door this morning, we saw that some snow found Vancouver! Hopefully that means that we're in for a good week! What's the weather like in California? Maybe it's not all too different since it's all by the coast. Hopefully Disneyland has been a blast.

We had a really solid week! We saw a lot of interesting things happen on the streets of Vancouver. It really is such a privilege to be able to serve here because of how many opportunities you have to talk to people. They're everywhere. And they all are completely different. We were invited by a messianic Jew on the bus earlier to come to church and a free lunch on "Shabbat", which is when the "real day of worship is". We come across less active members who are just visiting Vancouver quite frequently. We're trying to work with an inactive member who converted to Scientology. When we do go tracting, it's with a mindset that the street that we're on won't be visited by missionaries for quite a while, as opposed to "Oh, they're not home? Well. We'll see them in two or three weeks, then". Also, the subdivisions and cul de sacs of Vancouver are filled with Asian people. I'm not sure where the other Canadians live... (maybe in their basements?). Either way, our days are just filled with traveling from appointment to appointment and just talk to as many people as we can as we go. It's great.

We're privileged to be able to work with investigators that start living commandments before we even teach them. Investigators exercise a lot of faith, and it's a testimony builder to see the blessings that come into their lives. Unfortunately, one of our baptismal dates, Cheryll, fell and hurt her knee and was in the hospital, so she wasn't able to make it to church this week. The Primary had us teach the Plan of Salvation, and there were a few kids that reminded me of Jed and Jacey in there! (Only the good kids, of course...) Later today, we're going to be teaching Family Home Evening at a member's home with a really promising member referral, and we are excited about that. There's a lot of potential in this area! It's weird to think that by the middle of this week I will have been here for a month already. Time is going by very fast up here.

One recent convert, Lee Reynard, who I might have mentioned previously, didn't come to church for the first time this week, because he thought he had a stroke (it turned out that he was just wearing his backpack too tight).   He usually comes to church functions at least an hour early, and wants to just go tract or street contact or teach with missionaries. We certainly won't complain about that, because we need members to come with us to appointments. He prides himself on being "the most active" member in the Vancouver ward and he aspires to be a general authority. He's quite the character. He speaks with a British accent because he lived there for about 20 years. Before that, he claims he was a bounty hunter in Florida. And before that he claims he was an extremely rich child who started and owned a landscaping business. Still not sure about that. Anyways, he said that he had like 40 missed calls from members and from the church at around 9:00, when church starts, and so the members are definitely supportive of the missionary work and the people the missionaries introduce to the church. Working in a ward just isn't the same as working in a branch though. You kind of become a family member in a branch. I'd love it if I got sent North again. I saw one of the young single adults from a family in Burns Lake this week! She's going to school or something down in the Lower Mainland. I told her to tell everyone hi from me.

Well, I know that the Lord looks out for his missionaries! There are some pretty sketchy areas on the East side of Vancouver, but whether it's calming down really agitated homeless people or having the SkyTrain doors close before the "4th Annual Ride the SkyTrain with No Pants" people can board when you're traveling back from church, I've seen it all. I'm grateful for the chance to be serving the Lord here. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have had to build my testimony. I can appreciate now how valuable a testimony is. The church is true! Say woo woo! Have a great week everybody! I'm excited to hear how everybody's week was, and I hope that everyone had fun in California!

Elder Blotter