Anywhere is

Heeeyyyyyooooo!!

   So first, I would like to say that the song «Anywhere Is» by Enya, is pretty much changing my life. We have it on this music player thing in our appartment, and it is just changing my life. I listen to it and just get so pumped to go and work. So, if you`d like some refreshing music, check it out. Especially you, Dad. I know you probably love Enya so much. Since you listen to her (them?) every morning on the bike haha. Ok, enough of that. I hope you liked the pics from last week. As you might be able to tell, we live in the ghetto. What`s up!? It is super sweet and I love it. Hopefully we can convert one of the many drug dealers in our neighborhood and the place can stop smelling like weed.... Dream big! (Name that movie). But everyone is so nice and I feel super safe here, so it`s all good. Plus, we are in a car. I think it`s a 2013 Toyato Cruze? Fairly new and nice. No worriez. There are cops racing down our street everyday though. Well, not everyday, but close. One day there were four that drove down and they were going SO fast, it was insane! So we joined all of the neighbors out on the street to try and see what was going on. But we couldn`t see so we went back inside. But anyway, this week was sooooo much better. Things are really picking up and I am so glad because now I can stop focusing on myself and my feelings and just worry about others! I really need to be less self centered though. There is just so much to improve upon everyday, it`s nuts! But sweet too. The Lord will help with everything. Seriously. Just ask Him then act. Then boom. Blessings. I love it.

   This week was a fun one. We were visiting one of our investigators one night, and when we were leaving her appartment we walked by this guy, so I just said «hello, how is it going?» And he said good and he actually stopped walking! So then we started to introduce ourselves and ask if he`d like to know more and he said yes! It was so crazy! I couldn`t believe it, it was just too easy. So we met with him and had a good lesson and gave him a Book of Mormon. But now he won`t call us back and he missed one of our appointments. Come on Thomas! But it`s ok. Maybe it`s not his time right now. It was just nice because him and others have been fairly nice to us, so that is always nice. And makes you have some hope in humanity. It was really funny though with this Thomas guy. A little background first though. Everyone here does that bisous or kiss thing with the cheeks. I really don`t like it. First, I just don`t like when strangers or anyone really, touches me, so I`m already content with handshakes. But everyone here does the face/cheek touching thing and it is so weird for me! It seems so personal and strangers do it! But anyway, so we aren`t allowed to do the bisous to men, for obvious reasons, but new investigators and strangers we meet don`t know that. So after our lesson with Thomas I got up to shake his hand so we could leave, and he leaned in to do the bisous and I had no idea what to do! Because I didn`t know how to say «I`m not allowed to do that» in French, so I just had to let it happen because it was kind of too late. So after he went to my comp and she explained to him, and he just looked back at me like, «well then why did you do it??» And I just stuttered in my best French, it`s my fault I`m sorry I forgot! It was pure awkward... ho boy. After we walked back to our car my comp and I were just laughing so hard and I was soooo embarrassed. Hopefully that isnt why he hasn`t been calling us back! I don`t think it is, so no worries.

   Tuesday was sweet too. I don`t know if anything too crazy or exciting happened, but we went to have the last lesson of the day with Elie and Eliatha and their daughter Angela. They are all set for baptism so we just went over some of the baptismal interview questions with them so that they wouldn`t be worried about the interview with the district leader. And it was so nice because after the lesson Eliatha said she made food for us so we could stay and eat with them if we wanted to. Of course. She made tons of rice and cous cous with meat sauce and fish sauce stuff . I was so stoked because I love rice and cous cous. So I served up a healthy portion, just stoked as ever to eat after a long day. I kind of took too much but it was all good, I finished it right up. But then, right when I had finished, Eliatha said, «Soeur Kinghorn, give me your plate.» So, me, hardly even understanding what she said, I just stood up and gave her my plate, and she just started dishing me up again. She gave me double the amount I took the first time and just kept piling things on. I was so afraid because there was soooooo much food! I just said something like, oh wow thank you so much! And just prayed a little that I`d be able to eat it all. Luckily it was so good, but towards the end I had get some water to force the food down my throat. My companion was laughing at me because she could tell that I was having a rough time trying not to throw up or tap out before my food was gone. I guess that was my first mission experience with having to eat a ton. I am nervous for what will come... But, it is all good. We were blessed to be fed. Usually since we only have an hour to prepare a meal and eat we just eat cereal. I guess my comp is a pretty elaborate chef, so an hour isn`t enough time for what she knows how to do. We don`t always take meal breaks, but when we do I eat cereal. That`s all we buy at the store really. Sometimes I eat carrots. So I`m at least holding off scurvy for a few more days.

   We do service for this really cool German guy named Gerd. He has lived here for a long time, but he is German, so he lived there too before. Sorry, that last sentence was pretty pointless... Anywiggle, so we did some service for him and then I was talking with him after and it was the craziest thing because he said in 1943 he was fifteen and helped the fire fighters in Germany after buildings were bombed!! Then in 1945 when he was seventeen he was taken as prisoner of war in Germany for like seven or nine months (I can`t remember how many exactly). It was crazy though! Then he showed me this medal he has that he got for his service and it has the swastika on the back and it was so cool. Not that Nazis and swastikas are like super cool, but just the history and whatnot. Then he told me a story about how he started to work for the American soldiers, I can`t remember what he did for them, but he worked for them with some other German friends. Anyway, this was during the start of the Cold War. So one day one of his friends asked him whose side he was on (Americans or the Soviets) and he said the Soviets. And his friend said, «What?! Why?» And he said, «Becasue, after the first shots are fired, I`d much rather go to an American prison camp than to Siberia.» I thought that was super funny. He is so cool. I`ll try to get a picture with him one day to show you.

   Another day this week we went to a lady`s house that my companion had met before I got here. So we called her and went over while she was working. She braids girls hair at her house for her job. So she had all of this fake hair that she adds into the braids while she works. So at one point she had to go grab something from across the room. So she got up and her dress had a bunch of the fake hair on it when she walked past her seven year old son who was sitting on the floor. And her dress was all flowy so it brushed onto her son and a bunch of the fake hair came off of her dress and got all wrapped around her son. I was laughing so hard watching him try to get it all off. Anyway, we had a sweet lesson with her. We just got to know her a little bit better, then we sang a hymn with her. I can`t remember which one it was, but she knew it, and when we were all singing it was so powerful it was awesome. I started to tear up, but I had to pull it together. I hope we can see her again and teach her more because her spirit is so strong. I loved it. And when she was praying. Ho man there was power there! She has a testimony of God, it is incredible.

   So something I learned this week is the importance of patience. I look at these awesome people and I want them to change right away. I see their potential and just the little ways they bring thmselves down and I just want them to understand Heavenly Father`s love for them and for them to come unto him, right now! I got frustrated one night because I was expecting too much from them right away. But, patience is a virtue, and I need it. It`s ok though, because I was happy that for the first time I was frustrated about the work, and not about having to do the work. I think a little change of heart is starting for me! Also, someone said a cool thing this week, they said, «We can change on accident into who knows what, or we can change on purpose into something we want to become.» I really loved that, and really want to start working harder to change into a more Christ like person. Instead of just being changed in whatever way. We can control who we are, so why not be better?

   So there you have some of this week. I hope you can see that I am happy to be here! The work takes some getting used to, but it is cool and I am really starting to enjoy it. It sounds like you are all doing well at home! I got your letters this week and I was so so so so happy to hear from you, so thank you!!! You are always in my prayers. So keep being awesome! I love you all so much! I hope Alex is still alive. Good luck to the little dudes in school! I`m stoked you guys are starting! Be nice to the kids and make some new friends! I`ll send a letter home this week. Love you all!!

Love,

Suzanne (haha my formal name)

Three cheers for Jean-Francoise

My area

Oh what`s up fam?

   The keyboard is still weird, so please excuse the weirdness that might occur in this email. Also, you might be proud to hear that I have not bitten (is that a word?) my nails since before the MTC, and I haven`t cut them once either (hahahaha) but it also makes it hard to type... so sorry about accidentally nails hit extra keys, mistakes. Anyway, I have yet to read your emails, but I will do that after I give you a cute lil`update on my week. Haha I felt the extremes for sure. Ok, let`s do this:

   So Monday (pday) was cool. We did the email thing then went to Costco. They have Costco in Canada!!! But we had to go with some elders because they were the ones with a Costco card, so it made the trip really stressful and whatnot. I don`t like shopping much anyway, so I was happy when we finished. The we went to this place called Chocolat Favorit or something like that and got some super sweet ice cream cones. They dip them in this really delicious chocolate. But it was so so so rich that I couldn`t finish it then felt sick for the rest of the day. Oh well, it was worth it fo sho. Then we visited with Veronique and Romeo. They are super cool investigators. I really love talking with them. Even though by talking I mean just sitting there and smiling while they all talk. I need to try more to speak... But it`s hard when you can`t quite follow. It`ll come! Then we had a family home evening lesson with a family in the ward whose son hasn`t been coming to church as much. But, it`s really cool because apparently since the missionaries have been working with them he`s been coming back! Woohoo you go Jean-Francoise! We talked about Joseph Smith. What an incredible man. I love the song Praise to the Man, I have a lot to thank him for. Then we visited another investigator Michael. He is really cool too. He smokes though, and it`s been hard because he doesn`t like to be pushed with it so he doesn`t want us to ask him about it and all that. But he has a baptism date coming up... so he kind of needs to stop. I feel so inadequate in trying to help him with that. But, the Lord knows how to help him, and I trust that he will.

   Tuesday we kind of lost some time because our car had a flat tire and we had to get it fixed. Luckily it turns out that we did it just in time before it got really bad. Tuesday night was really funny because we went to teach one of our investigators, Roxanne, and she is like 11 or something. It is hard to just teach kids. Some of them don`t have great attention spans, but its all good. Three of her little friends came though and listened, so that was cool. And one of them was really interested and she answered all of our questions. After we prayed with them and took some pictures. THey were all  really cute, hopefully I can send some. That little experience was really good for me. I don`t know if anything really came out of it, but I just felt really happy to be there in that moment, so that was nice for sure.

   Wednesday was weird.. I can`t remember why exactly but just that it was weird. I learned some things that day. I put them into little phrases, so here they are, ``You only fail when you fail to try` ``Success is consistently doing what you are afraid of`` «You have to lay down your life every single day for those we teach and find» «Loving unconditionally means loving always with no conditions» That last one seems like, well yeah, no duh, but sometimes we put conditions on it without meaning to. Like by thinking, I don`t love them, I don`t even know them. Well, that is a condition, and we can`t have any of those. So I am trying to work on that. When I find that I am struggling I just look at the person and think, they are a child of God, and he loves them more than I can comprehend, so I should love them that much too (maybe not that much all of the time, but just a lot, but not a creepy amount). We have ward council on Wednesdays. We do splits for those so we can be more effective. I stayed for the council, and kind of followed what went on. When I really needed to know something though someone made sure to say it in English for me. I feel bad I don`t understand, but it`ll come with time. I just have to do what I can.

   Thursday we saw a bunch of people and handed out flyers for a party Saturday. We had our first dinner appointment with a family and two ladies who are less active. The food was pretty good but my problem is I haven`t been eating much because I am stressed and all that cute stuff, so it felt like I was eating soooooo much. But it`s all good. No barf or anything.

   Friday was probably the worst day I have had so far. I had a real break down. I think everything just caught up to me and I kept thinking how long 18 months is and I felt no motivation to work or do anything and I just was crying and it was really embarressed and I was pretty ashamed. But then I read in Preach my Gospel how we are accountable to the Lord about how we feel about our calling. That hit me pretty hard and I decided that I had better shape or else I will be in some trouble later for being negative. But, I realized too that obviously we are going to be upset sometimes, I just have to do my best to not let it totally get me down to the point where I am being a bad missionary. Because I truly am so blessed to be here. And I have loved it. I`ve not really liked some parts too, but overall I can see that things can and will get better if I just stay happy and positive. We went to visit Elie and Eliathia, the way sweet family. And they were asking us abut their baptism and how to set up the program and all of that. It was soooo sweet!!!! They can really do this! They have changed so much and are just so awesome! The Lord knows how to prepare his children, and I am so pumped and thankful that I just get to see it. Oh man, that night after the lesson was just pure joy. I haven`t felt like that before.

   Saturday was the ward party thing. It`s a tradition in Quebec to eat corn on the cob or something.. So we made a ton of corn, did a treasure hunt thing in the rain for a few hours and talked with people who lived in the neighborhood about the gospel. It was way sweet! Some super awesome people came. Also there was cotton candy, that is always good. We were there for seven hours though... and after my comp and I did almost all of the dishes, so we were pretty tired by the end of the day. But it was so awesome. The members here give so much time to the gospel, I feel like they do more than me, they are such great examples.

   Sunday was sweet. I could feel the spirit so strongly and it was just a testimony to me that the spirit is the universal language. Because even though I couldn`t understand much, I still felt blown away by the Lord`s power. It was awesome and motivating for sure. We contacted a bunch yesterday too. All of the people we talked to were really nice. No one was really interested, but our job is to get the word out and bring others closer to our Savior, and that is what we did. We saw some kids walking down the street throwing a football, so we ran over to them and I waved to have them pass. It was fun, and luckily I can still throw a decent spiral pass type thing, so I was happy about that. They were from Africa and were all nice. But they kinda were like, ok.... we`re going to go now, haha so that was awkward and funny.

    And now it is today and I am here just stocked to write! I took pictures of your emails so I can read them later. But thank you thank you a million times over for writing. I love you all so much and hope that you are well. School probably starts soon! Oh, I also sent a letter home. I may or may not have been in a bad mood when I wrote it, so sorry about that. I`ll be better for next time!

   Anyway, hope you feel caught up and all that good stuff. Until we write again!!

Much love, like always,

Snoop Dog

P.S. Like my email title? I couldn`t think of anything good, so that is what I named it.

 My trainer and moi wis some waffles

 Where I live, pretty sweet! It's not baby juice, it's milk - in a bag!

The girls I was telling you about

Me and the Prez and his wife and THE companionship!

Cranada

Hellllooooo!!!!

   Ho boy am I glad to be emailing you! Unfortunately this computer is all Frenchlike so it is saying that I am spelling everything wrong. That's ok, I will press forward with faith!

   So, before I forget. Send mail to the mission office address. If you want to mail me something, please do it. Haha I'm going to be honest this week was a rough adjustment, but I can do it, I am not going to go on about worries, I am just going to suck it up and forget myself! But yeah, mail would be awesome. And lucky for you all it's just to Canada, so not too far at all! Also, another problem is that I have noooooo time to read and write. And because I love all of your lengthy emails and whatsuch, I don't want them to stop, but maybe you could mail them to me too like Dad has been doing because I sadly don't have time to read and write. I decided to write and then I'll read, but that way I might miss questions... Sorry in advance if you ask questions and I answer them next week. What else... I don't think there were any other questions like that that I needed to answer, so I will proceed to tell you about the week!

   So I got here Tuesday evening and we went to the mission home and ate dinner and had interviews with our mission President (President Patrick- He's super chill and all that). We just kinda sat around and wrote in our journals until bedtime. It was fun. Then we went to bed. The next morning we finished up with the interviews and went on a walk around the block. Then we went on a drive up Mount Royal. It's funny it's called "Mount" because it really is just a hill. Anyway we looked out over the city of Montreal while our mission president read D&C 4 out loud. It was pretty cool and got us all pumped to start working. After that we went to the mission office where there is a chapel in the same building and had a little bit of training from the new assistants to the president (AP's for short). They kind of just helped set some standards for how we want our mission to go and all of that cute stuff. We wrote things down and sealed it up in an envelope and we can open it when we go home. I wonder if I will have done the things that I said I wanted to. I hope so. After that we got our assignments. I don't know if you got that picture of me with my new companion and the mission president, they might send it to you if they haven't already. But anyway, I am with Soeur Ryser, she is from Switzerland and has been on her mission for 14 months. She words all of the time and is really great for me. She has so much love and patience it is incredible. And it has really been such a blessing because like I said, this week was hard. But not in a bad way, just super overwhelming and all of that normal new missionary stuss. Anyway, she has been a great trainer. My first area is Longueuil Sud. Sud just means South in French. So yeah, I am in a French zone. It is nutzzz!!! I do not understand very much, but people know that and are really kind and patient. The person that has been the meanest to me here is myself. I am starting to see that I can have patience with others, but not with myself. So that is something that I have to learn and work on. But, with patience I have to learn patience. This is really nothing like I thought it would be. That's not a bad thing, just crazy and stressful and overwhelming. But I have only cried three times, so it's all good!!

   So after meeting my trainer and getting our area we left to our apartment and planned out the rest of the evening. Luckily, my comp has been here for a few months, so she had things worked out and going for us. But the problem was Wednesday night there is usually ward council, and the first Wednesday night they do a thing where the missionaries go with members and visit less active members. So I had to go on a split the first night with two sister members who I didn't know to visit a lady I didn't know and try to communicate with them all in a language I don't fully understand. When my companion told me the plan that was the first time I started to cry haha. But it's all good! I went and the members were so nice and one of them spoke a little bit of English so sometimes she could fill me in. But really it was all totally fine. The overwhelming feelings are the only things that really make me cry. I wasn't sad or homesick or anything. But now I am realizing how easy the MTC was! Holy cow! But, I am so happy to be here. I am just now patiently waiting to get better.

   Thursday we went and taught people, had a district meeting, I tried my first poutine! It was really good. I think we got like a pizza kind because it tasted like pizza with French fries... I don't know why people wouldn't like that! One investigator we have is Mylene. She is very sweet and I think she may have some mental problems. She wasn't home but we went by her friend's house where she usually is. She was super drunk. So on top of already having some disabilities, she drinks and smokes a lot too. It was so sad. We talked to her on the doorstep and she couldn't hold still and I had no idea what she was saying. My comp just talked a little bit about the word of wisdom and how we have to follow our Savior and his example. We said a prayer after and that was our lesson with her. It was really humbling to see how we all need the Savior, just in different ways.

   Friday I was kind of the same thing, just lessons and visiting with people. We taught a lesson with some investigators Romeo and Veronique. The are mother and son and they are so so kind and just intelligent and great. Romeo is in his twenties somewhere. He asks a lot of questions and his mom kind of just listens. We were teaching them about life after death and how it is a blessing that if we aren't able to learn things here we still have the chance in spirit prison, or to teach in spirit paradise. Romeo was concerened because he didn't think it was fair that some people could change their life right before they were going to die and still be good. I understand how that does seem unfair, but my comp just kind of said after that when we really understand our Savior's love, it won't matter to us. We will want everyone to be happy even if we feel like we worked harder. Ultimately, we just can't judge and have to work on ourselves thrugh service and charity to others. I feel selfish right now because I am so worried about how well I am doing and if my concerns about my ablilities are justified or selfish. But I decided that I have to build myself up in order to help others too. But I can help myself and others at the same time. Then comes the overwhelmed feelings, and I just have to remember to take it all one step at a time and remember that the atonement both helps redeem us and enable us. Elder Bednar taught that in a super awesome talk. I don't know what it is called though... Sorry. Also on Friday we visited the sweetest lady, Soeur Morisette with a member, Soeur Boldelau. They both were so kind to me it was really nice. I should them some pictures of family and whatnot and told them a little about myself, and I felt reassured after that I can do this. We talked about being like children, in regards to following Christ, it was cool (the three or four words I actually understood were cool, I mean... haha). Towards the end (we were sitting outside in this canapy bench and table type thing) a huge spider dropped down in front of my companion and she freaked out. It was so funny and horrifying. I was trying to remain quietly dignified while I cried inside because ho boy do I hate spiders. When we were saying the closing prayer I was praying in my heart that if I tried my hardest not to open my eyes and keep watch for the spiders, Heavenly Father could maybe in return helped the spider stay away from me. I only opened my eyes once and the spider didn't bother us again. What a blessing.

   Saturday was the same type of schedule. Except we visited the Boudo family. The are the greatest ever. So loving and accepting and they are preparing to be baptized and our lesson on that day we talked about the blessing of temple marriage and it was so awesome. I bore testimony how it was been a blessing in my life and just kind of talked about Katie briefly. I realized then that we are so blessed to have trials in our lives because they can help us know how to relate to and help others. We took a member couple with us to that lesson and between them and my comp they taught so well. I understood some and was just happy to be able to be there and feel the spirit and Heavenly Father and our Savior's love for them so strongly. It is the best for sure. My comp towards the end asked them if they would prepare to be sealed with their daughter in the temple, and the dad (Elie) took his wife's (Eliatha) hand and just said, "Bien sur" which is like of course and it was crazy powerful. Many, I hope I can help the lord see this through. He has definitely taught Elie with so much power, it is incredible.

   Sunday was pretty sweet. The members of the ward are so so so awesome! They help the Lord's work so much. More than I think I even am doing. A lot of them have multiple callings, and they willing serve. I love them. The Boudo family came to church, and Soeur Morisette and some other less active members. It was great to see them all there. The bishop got up to start the meeting and after the sacrament to my pleasant surprise he called me and a new Elder up to introduce ourselves. I only died a little bit inside because I kind of expected something like this to happen. I said a little bit about me and then said that I was a missionary because I love the gospel and that I want to help them in anyway that I can. And then I forgot to close "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen" so I just said, it's nice to meet you all then sat down. Oh was embarrassing. I am crazy. But that's ok, I'll learn and get better! Hopefully I get the chance to redeem myself or something! After church we visited a less active family and an investigator Stephane. The family was really kind, I just need to pray that Heavenly Father will touch their hearts. With Stephane it was really interesting. He is really hard to talk to because he doesn't really talk back or with us, and then just randomly he stood up and said, I have to go. So it was weird. But he lives with his grandma who is a member so we talked with her after and hopefully that helped her. She has a really hard life and I hope she can see the blessings or her diligence. She said she thinks our talking with Stephane helps him, so we will keep coming back. They gave us some nasty fruit drink stuff though. That was hard to choke down. And I think I almost feel asleep because we were outside and kind of in these loungy chairs and it was warm and this sister's voice was so quiet so I couldn't hear or understand. But it was all good. We knocked for the first time yesterday. No one let us in. But, it's all for experience! I cried after that though becuase I feel bad like eveerything is up to my companion since I can't understand yet. And also I don't understand why people won't listen. If they only know what we gave up to be here for them!! We will seriously do anything for them! But, it's ok. I just have to remind myself that they will have their time. And with me, maybe it isn't their time.

   Welp, I think that is all. I hope you feel nice and caught up. Now I get to read your emails!! Yay!!! This week was tough, like I said, but just know that I am happy to be here to learn and grow. Keep praying for me though because I really need the strength. Sometimes I think I am too soft because so far I haven't been able to handle rejection well. But I'll get better! I haven't forgotten why I came here in the first place, and that has helped me a lot. I love our Savior and I NEED him. Just like you all do too! Remember to love everyone and treat them kindly. That has really saved me here, when people have just been kind. So I guess this marks the beginning of my mission (technically), I really hope I can make you all proud! I love and miss you all so much and will send some letters today! Stay safe please!

Much love and hugs and glitter and whatnot,

Soeur Kinghorn aka Snooooooooooop

P.S. My comp actually likes to excercise. Thank goodness!!!! She seriously is the best.

P.P.S. I weighed myself and turns out I lost nine pounds in the MTC. Woohaa! 

Aug 5 I made it to Canada!

What's up guys. Just so you know I made it to Canada! We are at the mission house tonight, no assignments yet. I'll probably be able to email next pday, whenever that is.

Montreal is the best! 

Love you all!

Love,

Snoop

Aug 4 Off in the morning!

No time to write, but I am off in the morning. I'll call you from the airport, but it'll be early. Feel free to not answer and I'll leave a message haha. I love you all so much and miss you everyday. But I am also the happiest I have ever been in my life. Possibly pictures to come later today.... Talk to you tomorrow! Love you!

Love,

Snoop

 Sisters in ma district

Our district with Frère Alexander

With Soeur MaKay. She was my regular teacher along with Frère Sybrowsky 

Me wis some Canadian monies

Gym time with our Canadian swag!

Soeur Hunt and I

Last walk to the temple with our district

Elders and I (Supes awkward....) 

Soeur Hunt

YOLO #noregrets

Elder Kafusi!! He went to Brighton and we never talked until here and now he is an excellent friend! It has been nice getting to know him and it was awesome to see a familiar face around here.

Soeurs Statsny and Spackman. Super cool. They are going to Tahiti.

Soeur Spackman and me, you know, doin our thang.

Our teacher, Frère Sybrowsky's, parting note. He's sweet, I'll miss him for sure.