Missionary Letter #90

So this past week we got a new elder. Elder Lee from Hong Kong (did I talk about him last week? No... Alright) He's only been on his mission for one transfer and so we've needed to begin twelve week(missionary training) so our morning schedule looks like

Planning 30 min
Personal Study 1 hr
Companion study 30 min -1 hr
Language study 1hr
Twelve Week 30 min

Total: 3 1/2 to 4 hours of studying and planning.

It's a bit excessive, but it's also good because as a new missionary that's learning Canadian English and all the slang, expressions and mannerisms you need time to learn a language. He's really opened up over the past week though. When he got here he told my companion Elder Lokatama that he didn't really like to talk and he never smiled. He's different already. Smiling all the time and talking openly. It's great to see him open up.

Serving in a tripanionship is interesting. You can't do things the same way. Two guys on your doorstep can be a tad intimidating, three just adds to that. Despite that though we've seen some success. We joke around and talk as we go out contacting, and because of that people see that we're happy. It was funny... coming back from an appointment the people gave us chocolates. We talked to people and offered chocolate. It WORKS!

We also had a baptism this week. It was awesome! The spirit was super strong and we only forget to fill the font a little-bit. (It all worked out in the end). Due to the time and energy that went into making this baptism possible President Shields attended. (Iwasnotstressed) I wasn't stressed, but it was kind of a big deal. My boss (or the thing closest to my boss) was at the pinnacle of missionary work. A baptism is supposed to be super spiritual and a wonderful experience for everyone.

As for what was funny this week. We took zone video's to introduce our companionship to eachother. (Phones make it super easy to do stuff like that) and we sent ours in, but the sound didn't work. So the entire video was just us looking off into the distance with no sound....

We won.

Love you all, have a fantastic week!!!

Missionary Letter #89

Once again I find myself at the end of the transfer. Time's flown by in Mississauga and I've had a lot of fun as I've been teaching (and baptizing) here. I'll be honest my greatest fear for this, my last transfer, was changing area's. Partially because that would mean I have to pack up all my things and have no motivation to unpack them until August 2nd.

Thankfully I'm staying in Mississauga for another transfer, we did get a call last night but I'm not losing Elder Lokatama, instead we're going to be follow-up training another Chinese elder. #Tripanforthewin

Besides that though, we had a baptism this week!!! Min Zhang was a chinese investigator found in english class. She has been in Canada for about two months and despite numerous oppositions she got baptized this past Saturday. It was amazing. The ward we baptized her in had two mandarin speakers (both of whom served their missions in Taiwan) we worked closely with them both but leading up to the baptism we felt like attendance would be pretty low.

Lo and behold, we had a great turnout. Even though people in the ward couldn't understand everything that was said they came and invited Min to the ward. It was a miracle.

Besides that last week we went on a hike with a few of the other missionaries up north in Georgetown. Funnest, Hike, EVER! Really when I say hike I mean we found a small creek running through and followed it all the way up a large hill. Afterwards some awesome members helped us out and made hot dogs. We had five missionaries there who were going home next (now this) week. It felt like a good closing activity for their remaining time in the CTM.

Besides that, I love you all. God Bless and keep trekking on!

Elder Wolford

Missionary Letter #88

This week we have been busy. The good kind of busy. We're planning this upcoming Saturday to attend two baptisms (both in Mandarin) and the week after we're baptizing another (in English). I'll be honest when I got to this area it didn't seem like much would be happening here. People were willing to be baptized but they faced obstacles that were far greater than those of other invastigators  I had taught.

The biggest trial for all of these people being their family. It's a trial that I would never want to have, to chose between the church and family. Thankfully we've confirmed with the families and they will be attending but I can't help but wonder on how far they've come. For example when I came to the area baptizing Min was something that would have taken years to accomplish due to her husband being hesitant. However now she's being baptized. Another investigator, Gena, has been coming and attending church for five years. We thought she never would have the opportunity to be baptized due to legal complexities, but yesterday we had the baptisimal interview. It went so good and afterwards she was like--

"So I can get baptized tomorrow right?"

She knows this church is true, and that's the reason that right now for her in her life God made a way for her to recieve baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

That being said yesterday was a looooong day. I hardcore feel for anyone that has to go to church at 8:00 and leaves at 4:00. That's not an easy gig and through the whole experience you're just exhausted. The Spirit just tires you out after being apart of spiritual experiences all throughout that day.

I'm so excited for these next two weeks. Planning a baptism is stressful but it's the good type of stressful.

Loves,
Elder Wolford

Missionary Letter #87

I am sore.

We had a lot of service projects this week. You know the kind you think will only take two hours but winds up being a whole lot longer. Well that was this weeks story.

I didn't know these members, and I didn't think to much about it as we were moving because everything seemed fine and dandy. We had a blast, joked back and forth and moved a piano (which sucked, but I'm over it now) we spent quite a bit of our day helping them out with the move. Which I was totally fine with because if we weren't there it wouldn't have happened.

By the end of the service project we were talking to the member on our way back home. It was almost time to turn in and we were chatting on the ride back when we got on the topic of missions. By this point we'd already understood that this man and his family did not come to church very frequently, but he talked about his mission with so much love. Anyone who has served a mission usually talked about it with love and fond emotion. He invited us over again, and we're going to try and see them this next week.

Besides that we taught a Mandarin Lesson in Sunday School this week, I can't speak at all but I think my writings getting pretty good.

Smile, God love ya!