The Church is True

Chere famille et mes amis,

   Hey guys, just in case you forgot, I thought I'd let you know that the church is true. I figured that out again this week for about the fiftieth+ time. So that was awesome. This week was seriously so crazy. We had so many meetings, but with miracle after miracle we were able to get all of the things done that we needed to and wanted to in our area. Seriously, it is hard to explain how the work here goes, but trust me when I say, that the Lord's hand is in every single aspect of it. I can't tell you how many prayers I said to receive help and in some way it came. I am so blessed! And then, yesterday I was thinking, I am just one missionary, but even more simply, I am just one of Heavenly Father's children. I know he takes care of me like he takes care of the rest of his children, so it is so remarkable that every single person is blessed just as much as I am. It blows me away how involved he is with each and every one of us (if we let him be, of course). Who has time for that?! God does haha. So yeah, I am just overflowing with thanks this week. And every week really. I love what I get to do here. We are all just so blessed and we need to show our thanks everyday. Not just by saying "thank you." Don't get me wrong, saying thank you is huge and we have to do it, but we can literally show our thanks by doing something with the blessings we receive. Be a little kinder, more patient, more charitable, things like that. You are all awesome and doing so well though, so no worries. Ho boy I just love you all so much and am so proud of you all for all that you are doing. In showing thanks to our Heavenly Father, or just by being the good people you are. Keep it up!

   Some of you may be wondering why this week was so busy, eh? Probably not, I just think I am super interesting and whatnot. Missionary work is exciting so there's that. But anyway, I will just get started already, enough of this rambling nonesense! Monday was normal pday. We mostly just cleaned because we had be neglecting that. Tuesday we have a bunch of appointments that were awesome. We have a visiting teaching assignment, so we saw one of our sisters and she was so cool! She served a mission in the greatest place (Utah) the Temple Square mission, and we just helped her cook then shared a message and it was awesome to get to know her better. She was so cool I was really pleased with how well our time with her went. And it was a lady we don't work with as much or see around church, so it's was nice to have that opportunity to get to know her better. Oh man, I just love the people here, they are so sweet!!! We also had a sweet lesson with a lady named Hildah this last week. She is so cool, she invited her sister over to listen too (booyah, refferal). Her sister's name is Natalee, a name that is very dear to my heart because of one Nate the Great back home who I love, so that was fun to meet another Natalee. Anyway, the lesson with the two of them went well and the sister (Natalee) gave us her info because she was interested, so we passed that along to the missionaries in Montreal, and we will see how that goes! We also had a D.A. with a super awesome family in our ward. In my first week I met them and the mom was so nice to me. She just said something like, "one day my daughters might be out in the world doing what you're doing, and I want members to take care of them too, so I'll take care of you." Bless her heart. I owe her a lot. Anyway, the food was awesome and they have a little girl Cory's age who is almost as crazy as he is (but let's be honest, no one is as wild as the Puff Daddy), and some other daughters too who are all funny. So it was fun to get to spend some time with them. Then we taught English class, which I still love. The people there are so cute and just like me, learning a new language and whatnot. I hope I am a decent teacher since I have to lead the lesson (being an anglophone and all dat). It's just fun though, I like doing it. Wednesday we did a bunch, some service and some lessons. Gerd (the German guy we do service for) got back from his trip to Germany, so we got to go help him in his garden again and talk with him. I love being there. Turns out he was in the Hitler Youth too, how crazy is that?! I asked if he had his histroy written down. He said no!! What?!!? I said we could start doing that for service, and he said a lot of people have suggested that to him and offered, but he's not too interested. Hopefully he'll change his mind.

   Thrusday was awesome. Just nothing but incredible. I think my life kind of changed that day. Or something. We had a 70 come, Elder Carlson, and give our zone conference. It was so crazy spiritual that by the end of the day I was drained. In a good way, revelation is always good, no matter how tiring it can be. He talked a lot about finding people and teaching, and it was really useful and inspired, so that was really cool. The highlight though was in our mission leadership council (that's a meeting with all of the zone leaders, sister training leaders, president and his wife, and this time Elder Carlson). There was just a lot of spiritual power there. And brotherly love too. I can't explain it really, but I know I am supposed to be here for a reason. I also know that this is Heavenly Father and our Savior's work, and man is it being hastened. I am just an instrument in the Lord's hands, and I have never realized until now how special an opportunity that is. Wow, this work and this life really, are amazing. Like I said before, I am truly thankful.

   Friday we had some sweet lessons. One of them fell through so we walked around the block and just talked to people and handed out our card. It was great. Not everyone wants to talk to us, but there always is someone whose interest is spiked and even if they don't say we can come back, you can tell that we've left them something new to think about. There really are some sweet people here. But there are also soooooo many little hipsters and heshies! Have I told you that before? It's worse in Montreal. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, and there hipster\hesh style and all that, but one day too much heshiness is going to kill me. But for now I am ok. You probably don't know what I mean but "hipster and hesh" either... Well, there isn't time to explain. It's not important really. I also don't know who the "you" is that I am addressing when I write these. Sorry if there is ever confusion. I guess I am just talking to you all really.

 Saturday was super sweet too. President called us Friday night to see if we would go to Montreal again to represent the missionaries in a public affaires training. It was awesome! We learned so much! They wanted to get some people prepped for when The Book of Mormon Musical thing comes to Montreal, because they are anticipating some press. So, we learned how to handle interviews and hard questions. It was sweet because it was super applicable to everyday missionary work too. I learned a lot and President Faust's son was the one who taught it, so we got to meet two 70's this week! See what I mean, this week was just too gr8. Then we went back to Longueuil, had two really good lessons (one ended in eating some Haitian food, aka the best food mmmmmmm), and one pretty bad lesson. We need to work on preping our members for our lessons, because sometimes things get out of control and we don't really have the reigns on our lesson and it is no good. It was a bummer to have a lesson like that, but it taught us a lot and will help us improve for next time. I hope you all had a chance to see the women's conference! Ok, not you all, but you women. It was really good. At least I think it was, I watched it in French so I didn't quite catch everything. But, the spirit speaks in every language, and it was definitely there. Go to the temple. That's what I for sure picked up.

   Sunday was sweet too. We had three lessons, three hours of church, and then stake council, which is a meeting with the mission president, the zone leaders of our stake, the stake president, the sister training leaders (so us), and this time all of the bishops and branch presidents of the stake were able to come too. It was pretty dang sweet. I don't have much time to explain, but basicallly, the church is so incredible. So divine, inspired, organized, and all of that kind of stuff. I just realized yesterday how much people around the world are dedicating there lives to establishing the Lord's kingdom on the earth. Aka doing the most worthwhile thing you could be doing. But don't worry, there are plenty of ways to be doing that, fulfilling your calling, for  example, is an awesome way to build the kingdom. Anyway, it was really cool to be in that council and talk about how we can improve the missionary work in the Longueuil stake, and also just in general around the world. There is doctrine to back everything we do, and it is incredible! I just don't doubt for a second that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is our Savior's true church on  the earth today. The foundation, structure, organization, principles, doctrine, and everything are just too perfect. No one else but our Savior and Heavenly Father could pull all of that off. I understand of course, that sometimes mistakes are made, but I know that those are only because we, as humans, are imperfect and we make mistakes. I hope that we can remember that sometimes things go wrong, and we think it is the church's fault. But it's important to remember that while our Savior's church is perfect, the people inside it are not. We have to be like the Savior in all that we do, and that means forgiving others when they make a mistake. Just because I am a missionary doesn't mean I have some magical power to be perfect. Same goes for the bishops, teachers, and other leaders alike. We have to be patient, and trust in the Lord. He will correct mistakes, but sometimes we have to be willing to change our hearts and give it some time. Anyway, I am not sure where that came from, but I know that this church is true. I hope you all know that I would not be giving my sweat and tears for 18 months to a work I wasn't certain is right and true. There is nothing more important than letting others know that they can be saved and live with our families forever. So we have to keep doing that, missionary or not. I am thankful for the wonderful blessing it is to be a missionary. It's changed me. I am different. Still super funny and humble and smart and just pure sweet, but I am different, and hope to keep getting better! Trust the Lord and give him your life, be consecrated in all that you do!!! You will not believe the blessings you can receive!

   I love you all and hope you are safe. I pray for you and miss you, but right now, there is nowhere else I want to be than in Cranada. Keep up the good work, and sorry for my awkward ramblings... I just love the gospel is all. Alright, until next Monday, happy September 29. TWO 9 to the gravedirt!!!!

   Love your (daughter, sister, friend, missionary stranger or whatever),

 Soeur Kinghorn

P.S. Everyday just seems to have been "super sweet"

Fam Jam

    Hey framily.

   So this past week was another good one. Like always, never anything to complain about. Heavenly Father is good, all the time. I think I realized this week (if I didn't say it already in my last email) that Heavenly Father answers every single one of our prayers. It is the best. Sometimes we don't see it for awhile. And sometimes it just doesn't come for awhile. But I realized that until now, every single one of my prayers has been answered. I am so blessed. And by "until now" I mean not all of our prayers are answered in a second, so maybe my morning prayer to stay safe can't really be answered until I am in bed going to sleep tonight. But I think you get what I meant. You're all smarter than I take you for sometimes haha.

   Anywaffle, this week was a pretty cute one I'd say. It was really crazy and the work was a little slow because we lost a lot of time with transfers and then we went to a wedding of an investigator so that took a bunch of hours out of Saturday. But like I said, it was an awesome week none the less! Just before I forget, so I can answer your question Dad. My companion and I are both the Sister Training Leaders. Basically it's like a Zone Leader but just over the sisters. We do a lot of the same stuff (not 100%), and do exchanges with all of the sisters in our two zones. That's one of the differences. Usually the STLs are over one stake here, so Quebec is in our stake, but not in our zone. That's why we'll go to Quebec for one week each transfer. We'll do exchanges with the sisters there, then come home. It's just too far to go back and forth. So that's why it seemed a little crazy that my comp and I are the STLs because first they are flushing us in, and second we are being flushed into the STL position that has two zones and the most teams to be responsible for. But it's all good. I was a little stressed this week and cried a bunch on Wednesday (transfer day), but I realized that I just need to trust Heavenly Father and lean on our Savior and like anything else it can all be done! I am super pumped because challenges are always good and I am looking forward to how much I am going to learn. I just have to remember to suck it up and do it sometimes even though it will be hard. No point in feeling bad for my self, because I have it super sweet here.

   So the wedding we went to was super fun. It was probably the closest I got to seriously sinning out here. And by seriously sinning I mean I was borderline dancing at the reception. I mean they were playing Jump Around, so I had to tap my foot just a little to contain myself. No I'm just messin, I wasn't sinning, tapping your foot in time with some music isn't a sin. But it did take a lot of will power to not jump around and just get weird. The wedding ceremony was short and sweet. I assume it was sweet at least, it was all in Spanish so I didn't understand a word! Haha that was great. It was like starting over here all over again! Then we went to the reception. It was super fancy, I was seriously surprised we were invited. But, my comp must have been a really good friend to this investigator. I was just the tag along because they had no choice but to invite me, being the companion and all haha. They even had a place for me at the table! It said Hermana Kinghorn. It would be sweet to serve in Spanish here, but I kind of hope I don't have to because learning another language would be hard. But anywaze, it was too bad though because dinner was going to start too late so we only got to eat the fancy snacks the servers brought around to us. But it was enough food, I was just bummed I didn't get to eat the lamb! But we have  rules and breaking curfew for a wedding is not allowed. That all took place in Montreal all, by the way. So we had to anticipate traffic for driving home and whatnot so we maybe could have stayed a little later, but it was all good and probably better that we didn't. I had a really cool discussion with a guy there about missionary work though. He didn't know really anything about it so I just talked to him about the structure and how things are run and it was super sweet! Hopefully that made an impression of some kind on him. It was nice to talk to someone in English for sure. But, a lot of the other people knew that I was learning French so they would talk to me if I didn't in French. It was pretty funny and I am thankful they help me learn. The people here are awesome. Oh another sweet STL privilege is that I get to drive too now. So I've been drivin around and it has helped so much in learning our area. My comp has been having eye troubles too, so that has made me feel more comfortable too. You know, just knowing that the operator of the vehicle actually can see what's going on around us. That's usually a good thing.

   We had to drop some investigators this week. Veronique and Romeo. Some of my favorite people here by far. They just never keep our appointments and cancel at the last minute. So it's been like three weeks since we have seen them. I was pretty bummed about it last night because you just can see so much potential in everyone here. And when they are doing things that weaken themselves it's so sad. Plus we know the blessings they can receive if they just try it out! But, we respect everyone's decisions and agency. I just hope there wasn't more that we could have said to help them understand. I know someone will find them again one day and it will all be good. Patience is something we are forced to have and work on here. Hopefully I master it one day. Probably won't be in this life though. On Wednesday we had two dinner appointments. A member family invited us. They are so sweet! The sister is so kind and just reminds me so much of Aunt Leesa. I have to get a picture with her one day for sure. And her food was awesome! She made chocolate cake and poured straight cream over the top of it.... ho boy. It was too good. Then an investigator invited us for dinner and we felt bad saying no, so we went and ate another meal even though we were pure stuffed. But I came out ok. Except she wanted me to try some cheese that has wax around it, and I don't know that, so I just went at it and kept thinking, "this is so nasty!!!" But then she saw what was going on and told me to cut it off first. Haha I felt pretty sheepish. But it was all good. Just a little bit waxy, but who doesn't like eating wax? The next day we had a DA too and I have never eaten so much spaghetti in my life. Seriously I think I had three pounds on my plate, it was ridiculous! I could just feel my stomach filling up, and then the food rose to my throat and was just chillin, but I had to keep eating. Luckily she just gave us a cup of peaches for dessert. They were really good and a bit easier to get down because they are all slimy and whatnot. It was good. I came out with the sweats (spaghetti sweats), but we are  blessed to have charitable members here. Our district meeting with our new district went really. I think our district leader is going to be awesome and super on top of everything, so that is awesome. We pretty much just got bigger. Four sisters went home, and then we just added more teams. My friend from the MTC Sister Hunt is still in my district so that's sweet. There are just so many awesome people and missionaries here!! I am so thankful and happy! We got to teach English class again too this week. It's one of my favorite things here. The people are so great and they try so hard. I have so much respect for them. Learning a new language is rough, but they are just so awesome because they really try. I love teaching English class!! We had a pretty busy day after church yesterday. It went well and we were able to do for the most part all that we wanted to (just visit certain people) so that was really nice. This week we are really going to be focusing on finding more people and talking to everyone. We had to drop a bunch of people recently, so we need to find more people who are ready and prepared. Oh man I can't wait, everyone here is awesome and has so much potential!

   I am glad to hear that you all are doing well, not missing me too much. Just messin, I know you do a ton. Haha just kidding again. I am working on humility still, looks like it's not doing so great just yet haha. But yeah, I love you guys so much and I am glad you got my letter! I will send another this week! Dad I have gotten all of you dear elders. They usually take a week I think. It just depends on when someone goes and picks mail up from the mission office. That could be anywhere between a week or a transfer. Usually no more than three weeks though. But if you don't want to send those you don't have to because I print out your emails normally. Also, Mo, I got your picture letter this week!! Thank you for the awesome pictures!! I love seeing everyone! For sure send me the school pictures, even if dude is huge haha. I expect that. Was that all the questions? I think so... if not let me know. I love you all so much!!! Happy October almost!

   Also, read Alma 4 and 5 if you want to learn the kind of people/members we should all be. Alma really just gets right down to it. He's super forward and blunt it is so awesome. My kinda dude! Until next time! Stay safe, love you all!

Love,

Snoop Dizzle Manizzle Foshizzle

I'm goin to Miami

Law-dee-daw-dee Everybody,

   Wazzup people? Phew another pday. Sahweet! I love pdays. I hope my last email wasn't too weird or anything, it was a little bit of a rough day and news about Dean just made me so sad and I feel like I went a little nutz in the email, but I think it turned out ok. But now I am back again (guess who's back, back again. Snoop Dog's back, tell your friends). Thank you for the emails and updates on life and whatnot. One thing I learned this week is that life goes on. For everyone. And I think that is something that you all realized more this week too. Maybe. I don't know. But yeah, things got pure weird here. You probably aren't going to believe what happened in the good old CMM. But like I said, especially with change, life goes on.

   This week we saw a bunch of super awesome people. We met a new lady, Marie Elza (such a sweet name!) and she had met the missionaries like four or five years ago so she already knows about the greatest book around and Joseph Smith and all of that. And she has a crazy powerful testimony. I am really hopeful to see how things go with her. She is so cool. When we were going to her house for the first time we also met her neighbor who lives in the building next door. His name is Guillaume (another sweet name) and he was really nice because he talked with us for like fifteen minutes. We left our number with him, so hopefully he calls sometime. Our district meeting was awesome this week. We all just gave five minute talks and I learned a lot and was just so happy. I am so thankful for the awesome missionaries here that I can work with. So powerful, it's the greatest. Here's some of what I learned: Charity is being patient with those who have let you down. Heavenly Father will take care of the people we care about while we are here on our missions (D&C 100:1). There's a difference between working hard and working well. And of course, always trust in the Lord. It was a great meeting.

   We're still working with Michael. He's doing well and we are just working on setting a new baptismal date to get him truly prepared. He is really kind and our lesson about having to cancel his baptism went well. Luckily for us he came to us and said he wanted to cancel it, so it didn't end being so awkward for us. Phew.... We had an awesome ward council this week. We are getting ready to launch the ward mission plan. We are reallly working on just inviting the members of the ward to really get started in helping out with the ward mission work. We can't force anyone to do anything, but we sure can invite them. That's all I do here, invite people to do stuff. It's awesome. It's like when I heard awesome songs by Enya. I always make sure I go to friends, family (especially Dad), and strangers alike and say, "hey I heard this great song, Oronoco Flow, you should go check it out for yourself and see how you like it!" Then some people try it out and love it then share it, others say I'm crazy and tell me to go away. But what matters is we get the invitation out there. So with the ward and missionary work in general, we can't force anyone to do anything, we can only invite them to act.

   We helped a family pack up this week because they are moving. I was sad because I don't want them to leave, they are really awesome. But that's just life I s'pose. Like I said, it just goes on. We also had something super awesome happen. There is an investigator family we have been trying to get ahold of recently, but they have been ignoring us and it's a bummer. But after we helped the family pack, we had to run to our next appointment, and we didn't have time to change, so we figured we'd change there. But then the lady couldn't see us, so we were trying to figure out what to do because we still needed to change. Turns out we were close to this investigator family's house, so we thought maybe we could stop by there and just ask if we can change and not even mention teaching them. So we went to the door and they were home! So we asked if we could change there and the mom said, "yeah of course, and don't we have a lesson today in a half hour?" We inwardly said no... but we said to her, "oh yeah, sorry we are kind of early!" So we just talked to her after we changed and it was super awesome! I love that family. The mom is Jacquie and she is somewhat interested, but she works all of the time, and so does her husband, so life is a little tough for them right now. I hope things can start getting better with them. We love teaching them so much. We also saw Elie and Eliatha again! Elie got back from Africa, so it was really great to see him again, he seriously is so cool. So is Eliatha of course. They were asking my how we say their names in English... Haha I was like, "I don't know, it's your name, isn't it just said the same?" But then later that night after we went home I realized that his name is probably like Eli... Who knows. It was good to have him back though for sure. We saw Michael again with a lady in our ward, Soeur Goudard. She is so awesome and teaches with us all of the time. She said she feels like she has known us for forever, and that was really sweet.

   So yeah Saturday in rained a ton. The rain here is crazy sometime! But we also had transfer calls. And guess where I'm goin (I'm goin to Miami, welcome to Miami)? Ready for this? I am staying in Logueuil! With my trainer! What a surprise! But actually we are the new sister trainging leaders.............................................. So there's that. Neither of us have done that before, and I am still being trained technically. So that was a crazy shock. I felt pretty inadequate. It'll probably be hard to give people who are older and more experienced advice and whatnot, but the Lord qualifies the called, so I'll just live it up to him after I have done all of the planning and preparation that I can. My comp and I are just going to do are best and do this thing. But, I'm probably going to have to buy a small suitcase, the kind that can be used as a carry on, because we will have to go to Quebec City now for a few days in a row for exchanges and whatnot, so I don't want to have to bring my huge suitcase for those. Pretty crazy, right? I guess we will see how it goes. But I trust the Lord, and I am excited for this opportunity. I just hope I can help and do what is right. When we got the call though I felt like I instantly aged twenty years. I'm basically going hairless now because so much is falling out all of the time from stress. But it's all good. It'll be so cool and a good experience. Life is awesome and challenges are the greatest. Just say some super heartfelt prayers for me, I'm going to need as much help as I can get! But like always, I'm pure happy. Life is awesome. Missions are awesome.

   Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you I had to give a talk in church yesterday. That was fun. I like speaking in church. I don't know if I pronounced everything right, but people thanked me for it afterward. They may have just been comments, not compliments (just to get that straight for you Dad haha). But anyway. I think that just about sums up the week! I hope you are all safe and happy! Keep learning and growing and serving! It's a commandment so..... haha. I love you all so very much!!!!

L8er Sk8ers,

SnoopZilla

Prizza Everyday

My dearest family and the other precious souls who read these,

   Well, my cold heart hurts today to hear the hard news. I am so sorry for the Coffey family, and I hope they can feel my love all of the way from Canada. What a kind man Dean is. I don't know why Heavenly Father needs him now, but how blessed are the heavens to welcome such an extraordinary man. Dean was always so kind and interested in how my life was going. So genuine and nice! He never failed to go out of his way to talk to me when I would see him around town. At Matt's soccer games or at our own house when he was fixing things up for us. He even came to my farewell. I'll never forget how kind he is. I never saw him sad, and that is something we all could be better at. I am thankful to have known him, and all of the Coffey family! Even their cousins, one of which happens to be one of my best friends. Their examples and strengh are incredible. Pray for them, comfort them, and mourn with them. I keep them and you all in my prayers. I never expect things like this to happen. And it confuses me when they do. But, it's ok. Because I do not have any doubts that there is a purpose for everything. The Lord's timing is perfect. And even though we don't always understand it, one day we will. And just like you said Dad, Katie is right there waiting for him. And Chandler Webb, Steve Brewster, and Jim Gasik. Once you're a Hegessy ward member, you're always a Hegessy ward member! The church is a family, here on the earth and in heaven as well. The Lord blesses us with our ward families for a reason. Cherish the relationships we can have with other members. We are all here for each other! It was hard for me to hear about Dean. It just brought up some sad memories. But how blessed are we to know that they are there together, cheering us on. Do what you can now to be worthy to see them again. Don't deny yourself that blessing. I know we can see them again, and I am so thankful for that.
   It's been a rough week. An excellent week, like they always are, but hard too. Sometimes it seems like thing after thing after thing goes wrong, but for some reason I am still happy. I am convinced that true happiness comes from sharing the gospel and being obedient. Because there have been a lot of crazy things going on, and yet, for some reason I am still just so happy. And the only thing I can actually trace my happiness back to is sharing the gospel. How blessed are we to know the things that we know. We had a baptism planned and almost fully figured out for this week, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen. I was pretty disappointed at first. But one thing I am really trying to understand, is not the "when" of baptism, but the "why." I think, yeah the sooner the better, but it has to be when we are ready. And sometimes as missionaries I think we get a little caught up in the rush of baptizing because we want to see some numbers. It's not the point. These are souls, children of a loving Heavenly Father, and not just statistics. Apostles and prophets say that all of the time, and it is so true. So, with our investigator, Michael, we are now going to go back and try to understand what he needs to help him turn his desire for baptism to become more of a desire to come unto Christ. He has been struggling to give up smoking, but really wants to be baptized. But the desire to be baptized needs to help him quit. The desire to be baptized isn't enough, we have to have the desire to change and follow our Savior, and if he doesn't understand that, then he isn't ready. But I have faith in him! And in Heavenly Father! This can and will all work out how it's supposed to, as long as we help him understand his relationship with our Savior and Heavenly Father, and what baptism actually means for him, and the importance of making and keeping covenants. Because if he is baptized then falls away, whose fault is it? We don't want to put someone's salvation in danger. And if we are truly led by the spirit, we can find out what he needs to understand, and help him to be better. I understand (not to it's full extent) how hard it is to quit smoking. It'll take some time. But with the Lord, we have that time, and we have the support and strength we need.

   Something kind of funny happened this last week. We had a lesson with a lady who is less active. She really loves praying, so sometimes we'll just be sitting and talking when all of the sudden she'll just start yelling out prayers. I guess it's cool, it doesn't seem too reverent, but hey, she loves Heavenly Father and knows that he loves her too, so I don't mind her sporadic prayer cries. But during our lesson she asked if we could stop and all just say a prayer, her, then me, then my comp. So this sister starts, and her prayers tend to be lengthy. She has a really nice old lady voice too, the kind that makes you want to go to sleep. We were sitting outside and the weather was nice, and conditions were just perfect for sleeping. So she starts praying and I think, "sweet, I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes, enjoy this prayer time, then say my prayer." But I accidentally started dozing off, and she finished and I was still just sitting there with my eyes closed and head bowed. Luckily I noticed she had stopped talking after probably ten super long seconds, and opened my eyes and her and my comp were just staring at me, so I just closed my eyes and started praying. Haha we just get in the weirdest situations sometimes... But it was funny and I think she enjoyed my prayer. After though my comp asked, "what were you doing?" And I felt bad to say that I was just kinda taking a little nap. But it was all good.

   Something else kind of cool that actually happened two weeks ago is my comp and I were walking into Wal Mart to buy something and this guy stops me and asked if I went to school with him. I just kind of laughed and said, no I am a missionary, I have only lived here for a few weeks, etc. But anyway, we got to talking and we ended up giving him a mormon.org card with or number, and he called us the next day! It was so sweet because he set up the appointment. His name is Lamine and he is about 6'4 two hundred plus pounds. He said he was from Jamaca (how do you spell that??) and Africa... So I don't know which one is true. But he is pretty sweet. I was just laughing though because when we went to teach him the first time we didn't have a member with us, because we didn't know if he was serious so we didn't want to get stood up and have a member with us. So anyway, we got to his building and he buzzed us in. But you had to go through a door and walk down a hall to get to his room. So we climbed the stairs and looked through the door window down the hall to his room, and there was Lamine, this giant man. I was kind of scared because he could probably just crush me if he wanted to. But my comp said, "we are going, he is a child of God and we will be protected!" So we went and talked to him, but since it was just us three we had to go to outside. So we went outside and walked to a park. It was probably a hilarious sight to see. I kept laughing secretly because I thought to strangers looking at us we probably looked so funny. Just me, my comp, and Lamine. He knows a lot though. It's pretty cool to talk with him. But, we've only had two lessons so far. Hopefully he starts understanding things and comes to church with us! We invited him but he went to Novelle Vie instead. Lame.....

   We had to break up with an investigator last week. It was pretty sad, but she isn't all that interested and we didn't want to keep bugging her. Missionary work really is like relationships. Sometimes people say you get and keep investigators just like you'd get and keep a boyfriend. I don't know if it's the exact same, but breaking up with investigators was sad like breaking up with  boyfriends is. I assume.. I can't remember if I have ever broken up with anyone. I usually just let them go on missions and that takes care of it for me. Just kidding, that sounds really terrible. I don't know why I am telling you all this. So anyway......

   I am glad that things are going well at home and school is getting goin for the dudes and you are all safe. Right now things are tough, I understand, believe me I do. But, read 1 Nephi 3:7, it's one you all know. It has taken on a whole new meaning for me here. Sometimes I think, "why are things like this Heavenly Father? This is too hard, why are you asking me to do this. I am just Suzy, I can't do it." Well of course, "just Suzy" can't do it. But I have my Savior on my side, as you all do. And like 1 Nephi 3:7 says that the Lord does not give any commandmants or he doesn't ask anything of us, save he has already prepared a way for us to achieve what he has asked. Don't quit. Don't turn your back on what you know to be true because you think it is too hard or impossible. Take the Lord's yoke upon and give him your weaknesses. Let him make you stronger. And even if we don't have a distinct path that says, "here this is the way I provided for you to accomplish the hard thing!" Trust in the Lord and use the atonement. It's here for us. And perhaps that simply is the path, or the way that he has prepared. Just putting trust in our Savior can get us through anything. Some of you may think I am wrong, but the only thing I have to say to that is, where is your faith?

   Snoopswag is signing off. Keep your heads up and your hearts open. The world is a good place, keep making it better. I love you and miss you dearly. But like after a mission or after someone's time on earth, we will all see each other again. If you're worthy, it's a promise. Ok I love you all! Someone eat some pizza for me because I've been craving it lately. Prizza everyday!!!

Beaucoup d'amour, comme toujours,

Soeur Kingsbeard

P.S. Shoutout to my homie Sara Ranck!! England, WHADDUP!!!! Supes pumped for her. Now we've got three friends in three countries (excluding the elder friends, they're everywhere)! Peru, Canada, and soon England. Cheers!

P.S. I think I am still loyal to Dunkin Donuts, but I had some Tim Horton's today and it was pretty good.....

Exchangez

Hello wonderful people, aka my family, so yeah, wonderful people.

   So I am still here in Canada (probably won't be leaving for awhile, in case you were confused). This past week was super sweet! I don't have my pday today because it is Canadian Labour Day! Go Canada, you take that work break! So we just have some time to email then it's off to work for me! Tomorrow we are going to Montreal though to check out the biodome. I don't really know what it is, probably just a dome full of biology. Hopefully it is fun! It will be cool to see some more of Montreal and have tons of people stare at us on the metro. Because why would anyone run around with a plaque on. It's a weird thing that attracts a lot of eyes. But it's cool because our Savior's name is printed right underneath, and hopefully if nothing else, it brings a little joy to these souls. It's pretty sweet to be a missionary. Pure weird and different, but sweet none the less. Anyway, now that I have finished random tangent time, I will update you on the Real World Canada. Ha not really, I have no idea what is going on in the real world.

   So last Monday for pday after we emailed we brought groceries looked at a store called Ardenes or something then just went back to the apartment to relax. I like doing that some pdays, because we seem to make pday more stressful than it really needs to be, but it's all good. We had a lesson with a boy named Frank that night. He is ten and comes to church every week. He loves it. I think it is because his parents work a lot so he is home alone a bunch. But the beauty of church is, not only do you get to relax, feel the spirit, and learn about our Savior, but you just get to talk to a bunch of friends and have a good time! So Frank is cool, and he really gets it. He has a testimony for sure. And whenever we go over to teach him and his mom, he usually ends up explaining the things to her, it really is so cool. I hope he can be baptized. But we really want the parents to be on board and get baptized too so that they can do it together and support each other. After we had a family home evening lesson with a member family in our ward. We work with them a lot because they are having a hard time. The dad passed away last year. So we just go and do our best to boost them up. We really think it is helping. And one of the daughters comes teaching with a bunch too, so it's cool.

   We made a mistake on Tuesday and brought two members with us to a lesson with an investigator. Everyone just wanted to talk and it was getting so crazy, we lost control of the lesson. We were able to bring it back though, and make sure we hit all of the important parts. But for next time, we are for sure only bringing one member. But bringing husbands and wives is good for sure. They usually know how to work better together though. But it is all good, you learn something new everyday! One thing I am starting to realize though, is how much not just the members here serve the church, but how much the members back at home do too! I only started to notice it here because I actually have to work with the members now, unlike before my mission when I just showed up on Sundays then didn't here from or of people until the next Sunday. So pretty much, every member who is magnifying their calling should just pat themselves on the back right now, because we truly appreciate all of your help in the missionary force. We need the members!!! We also met with Eliatha this week. I don't know if I mentioned it, but her husband, Elie, had to go to Africa this past week because his dad passed away. I felt so bad. So we visited Eliatha a few times to just bring some comfort and happiness. Unfortunately we have to change their baptism date because he will get home the day after it was planned. But that is life, and all is well because their have testimonies and the desire. So Heavenly Father will help everything work. 

   On Thursday we had a lesson with Hilda again. It was so funny because when we walked into her apartment there was some rap music playing. And at first I thought, wait, I know this. Turns out it was Gangstah's Paradise. I wish you all could see her, then you would know why it was so funny that she was playing it. But yeah we had a good lesson with her about the apostasy and how our Savior established his church on the earth then it was taken away. She turned down our invitation to come to church, but she did say that she would maybe come one day, so that's good! Also she said we could come back, so I have no complaints. It's awesome too because she is friends with Elie and Eliatha... So you know, that could really help her in her desire to go to church because she'll already know people there! Sweeett!! 

   Friday we started our exchange at night. We had two lessons after the exchange so we just went right to work. My comp. for the 24 hours was Soeur Robles. She is support cool and funny and it was really nice to work with her for a bit. It was nice because I had to lead the lessons and be in charge for the day, and even though I made mistakes, I saw that I actually have learned somethings, and as long as I trust the Lord, I can do this mission thang afterall. Our day kind of fell through, but I learned a lot and just got excited to do more. 

   I went to my first party for a latino girl who turns fifteen. I know there is a name for the party, and I know the name, but I don't know how to spell it. That is why I have that super weird explanation and I am not calling it what it is...  But anyway, it was for the bishop's daughter and it was really cool! We went to eat a little and mostly do dishes. But you know, that is missionary life I suppose. 

   Yesterday we knocked for two hours. We talked to two people who said we could come back. Maybe out of kindness, but I hope they are really interested! It wasn't so bad. One lady opened the door and we said, "hi we are representatives of Jesus Christ," and she just said no and shut the door. It was really funny. 

   Overall the week was good! I am doing really well and I am happy and I was so happy to hear from all of you!!! Thank you all for writing! It is the best to hear what's up and how everyone is doing! I love you all so much and am so blessed to have you all in my life. Hopefully I can make you proud! Stay safe and remember who you are!

Love,

Snoooooooooooooop

P.S. I sent a letter home this week. So you should be getting it some time.

Ok luz you mean it!

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!