Thursday, March 22, 2018

Zone Conferences and Interviews

Last week we held all 4 of our zone conferences-two in Calgary, one in Lethbridge, and one in Taber. They were all so great!  Our morning was spent learning more about using our smartphones and applying the Safeguards for Technology.  There are 4 safeguards the missionaries are to follow which will help them as they incorporate the phones into their missionary work.  They are 1-Always be in tune to spiritual promptings 2-Stay focused on your mission purpose 3-Be disciplined 4- Be one.
We spent time talking about the importance of each one, how everything we do with our phones should be guided by the spirit, and as we stay focused on our purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ, stay disciplined, and be united with our companion, we really won't fail.  The missionaries are learning to 're-learn' how to use modern technology--to use it for righteous purposes, not just out of boredom.  We know it will take some re-thinking and more self-mastery, but we really know our missionaries are ready for it.  We know that all of the modern technology has been created at this time to assist in hastening the Lord's work.  If we use it righteously, amazing things will happen!  We also talked a lot about using Facebook, and using it properly, as well.  We have already seen miracles happen by using it the right way, and it is really exciting.  We know as the missionaries develop good habits about how to use their phones on their mission, it will bless them as they go home.  Missionaries will conduct 'companion device audits' with their companions, where they will trade phones, and their companion will look through their phone and be sure everything they are doing is appropriate.  We determined that if we are following the safeguards, we will really have no problem with this, because everything on our phone is about missionary work.  We trust our missionaries and are excited to see what will happen as they use these smartphones!
As always, our testimony meetings at the end of each conference were a highlight.  They are so filled with the spirit, and it is powerful to hear such beautiful testimonies from missionaries as they speak about how they are coming to know their Savior and to love Him more than ever. I wrote down some of the phrases of testimonies that were shared because they were so touching:
"I feel closer to my Savior as I read the Book of Mormon."
"I'm so grateful that the gospel has become 'delicious' to me."
"I know that Heavenly Father loves us and gave us His son."
"I do know the Savior lives.  I've been completely changed by the gospel."
"Even if it's hard I can look at the end of the day and see the little miracles."
"I feel so much joy and happiness in the gospel and I want other people to feel it."
"I know that Jesus Christ lives."
"No matter what, we always have worth in the sight of our Heavenly Father."
So, you can see why we always love zone conferences!!
We were able to attend two baptisms on Saturday, one of a young single adult named Elli, and the other of a man named Ramon.  There is really nothing like witnessing a convert baptism.  To see people accept the gospel and make significant changes in their lives is so inspiring.  We love being able to attend these baptisms.
We participated in the Lethbridge East Stake Conference that weekend, and it was a great conference with many inspiring messages.  Afterwards, President and Sister Stewart invited us to their home for lunch, along with their counselors and their families.  Somehow, they knew it was Steve's birthday and they brought out a beautiful cake and sang Happy Birthday to him.  They are so good to us!  We have really loved our friendships with the Stake Presidents.
We returned home Sunday afternoon and then on Monday began interviews again and have been conducting interviews all week long.  It has been fun to have the missionaries  tell us what they learned from zone conference the week before.
This week we have actually some some warmer days--up to 8 celsius on Tuesday, which is 46 Fahrenheit!  It was wonderful!  But today it is snowing again--but we feel like spring is coming and we can't wait!  Even the Calgarians are tired of the snow we've had!  The good weather also lifts the spirits of our missionaries, too.  It can be hard to get out on those extremely cold winter days--it's hard to go out when it's -22 out there!  So, I admire our missionaries for their determination and faith to go do the work.  We love them!
Birthday cake for Steve from the Stewarts!

Baptism of Elli with Sisters Perez and Bushman

The Lethbridge East Stake Presidency and us

Fun visit from two of our returned missionaries who announced their engagement-Brittany Robison and Tyler Harrison!

Elder Buttars and Elder Cook came out to their car after interviews to find it decorated with balloons!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Few more pics!

We've had record snows in Calgary this year!  We are soooo ready for spring!

Our mission leadership council-March 7, 2018---these are great leaders!

Our first little granddaughter on her blessing day-- Nina! 

Lethbridge Zone setting up their smartphones!!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Another transfer week come and gone!

Last week we had another great transfer week!  We took 19 departing missionaries to the Calgary Temple on Tuesday afternoon, which as I've said before, is always special.  I love seeing these missionaries dressed in their white temple clothes!  And we then came back to have a yummy meal made by Natasha--and her desserts are even more yummy!  I couldn't resist the ones she made this week!  Then on Wednesday morning we got up early to take 2 missionaries to the airport early, at 6:00 a.m.  After getting those two off, we came back to the mission home and I even got a chance to exercise, before cleaning up and taking 16 more out to the airport to catch their flights. There is such a bittersweet feeling as we send these departing missionaries home.  We will miss them, but after listening to their final testimonies and seeing how they have grown throughout their missions, we are excited to send them into their next phase of life.   It took us so long to get those ones off that we just stayed there to greet our 12 new ones coming in at 1:30.  But by the time they got through customs, it was really about 3:15 or so.  We love greeting these new ones and seeing their enthusiasm and excitement.  We love welcoming them into the great Canada Calgary Mission.
We took the new ones to the mission home for our regular training with our senior couples serving in the office, and then we had a great meal (again, made by Natasha), followed up with a little more training with the assistants, and then we got them to their hotel for a fairly early bedtime.  Then we took our last missionary to the airport at 10:00 p.m. to catch her flight to Mexico!  3 Trips to the airport in one day! Crazy!
The next morning, on our regular transfer day, they were all able to meet their companions and go to their assigned areas.  I love seeing this!  As great as the MTC is, this is where they really feel like their mission has begun--they are really here and ready to go to work!
It was a good transfer and all went well!
Saturday after transfers we began interviews as we drove to Medicine Hat to participate in a Stake Conference with Elder Brian L. Rawson of the Seventy.  And of course, as we got on the infamous Highway 1, the wind was blowing drifting snow, visibility was poor, and we began to wonder if we were once again, going to get stranded on that highway!  But, we made it through!  We had a great stake conference, and afterwards we were able to FaceTime in and watch the baby blessing of our first little granddaughter, Nina!  It tugged at our heartstrings a little (again) to not be able to be there for this special event..but we are grateful for modern technology that allowed us to listen in and hear the beautiful blessing our son-in-law Jordan gave.
President and Sister Salmon invited us for lunch after, along with Elder and Sister Rawson, and we had such an enjoyable time with them.  We have so grown to love the Stake Presidents and their wives that we serve with.  They are such GOOD people, and we cherish our friendships with them.
We made it back safely to Calgary by 7:00 Sunday evening in time for a 7:00 meeting with our assistants.  This transfer we sent Elder Wolfe back out to be a regular missionary, and a new assistant, Elder Chapman was called.  We are so grateful for Elder Wolfe's service, and are excited to work with Elder Chapman and know that he will be great, as well.  These young missionaries are amazing!
Tuesday we were able to pick up one more missionary, who came late because of Visa troubles, and get him to his companion!  So we really had 13 arrive for this transfer.
Today we held our Mission Leadership Council in Lethbridge, and all of our leaders have their new smartphones, and most of our training today was on using these devices as a missionary.  We are really so excited for them to have this capability.  They are already thinking of wonderful things they can do to further the work, and they have a great desire to be obedient with them.  We know as they do this, they will see great things happen.  We are so proud of them, and of their righteous desires.
It is a privilege and blessing to serve with them.  We just love them.
Our departing missionaries at the temple

All the departing missionaries in the mission home before leaving!

Our garage full of luggage at transfer time!

Elders Grinwis, Chapman, Wolfe- enjoying Chik-fil-a before picking up new missionaries 

Our new missionaries at the airport!

Fun visit from former missionaries, Austin Dredge, Hunter Murdock

Our amazing family at Nina's baby blessing.

Elder Pole'o meeting his new companion, Elder Walquist.