"I'm sorry we're embarrassing, but would you like a donut?"

That's my impression of Canada based on what the Canadians here say about it.  And maybe that makes it sound like I don't like Canada but I actually already really love it!  And I haven't even gotten there yet.  I'll be flying out two weeks from today.

So, that's crazy, I've been here for almost a month and I only have two weeks left.  The MTC is really amazing, I'm so happy I get to be here for as long as I do.  I am learning so much all the time and I am so happy.  There are things about myself that I didn't even realized were crooked until the MTC started straightening them out.  I am so grateful to be here.  I feel like everyone should spend a good six weeks in the MTC just to prepare for life.

This email might be kind of short because I forgot my journal where I write down stuff I want to write home about (oops) but that'll probably just mean next week's letter is both longer and more meaningful.  Like, I know I had spiritual epiphany things I wanted to share with y'all this week but can't remember what they were at the moment.  So next week's letter will be AWESOME, and I think this one will be good, too, it'll just be a little more scattered.

The gospel is really, really cool.  And really, really true.  I think a lot of the time we know that and feel good about knowing it but forget that knowing it requires us to do something about it.  This gospel is a gospel of love and peace and joy and it's also a gospel of work.  Even if you only have a particle of faith, it is required that you exercise that faith.  And then it grows.  And soon you have all this faith and you don't even know what to do with it so I'll tell you what to do with it: ACT on it.  SHARE it.  I promise you that you will feel so much joy when you do.

I love all my companions, I love that because of weird district things I have three of them hahaha.  Soeur Fouts and I have so much in common and she says things every day that I know I need to hear, it is absolutely by design that everything worked out the way it did.  It's going to be really hard leaving without her.  She is a blessing in my life in so many ways.  New York is very lucky to be getting her.  There's a really cute picture of us that I'll try and send next week but I don't remember who's camera it's on.  Just know for now: we're adorable.

Cruz and Torres and I started teaching a real investigator this week (like a real live unbaptized person) and that's way cool and way scary.  Oh, and we're teaching him in English, which it turns out is wayyyyy harder than teaching in French.  No language barrier excuses anymore.  His name is Johnathon and we've only taught him once but it was an amazing experience talking to him about faith (another set of missionaries taught him the restoration and the plan of salvation before they left the MTC, but he's way confused about a lot of it) and sharing personal experiences with him about times when our faith has been tested or we've felt the spirit or both.  There are many things that were wonderful about that hour, but one of the many was how much closer it brought me and my companions.  We don't usually get to tell personal experiences in that much detail just because it takes too long to try and get the words out in French.  It was really good.

There are going to be a ton of apostles here this week because a ton of new mission presidents are being trained here right now.  We're excited about it.  They're making a really big deal about always being on your best behavior because you never know when the prophet might be watching you.  It's good times, the devotional tonight promises to be a good one.

OH! Happy Father's Day to my wonderful father and to my three brothers!  You are all fantastic dads, keep up the good work, your children love you and so do I!  You are an example to me all the time of the kind of father I want to have for my children one day!

Also I saw Hannah and Abby at the temple grounds on Sunday, which was super weird but also really good!  I was so happy I got to see them!  And I found out Brendan Anderson is serving in my home ward, which just makes me so happy!  The ward is lucky to have him.  AND Norris comes into the MTC tomorrow!! So, good BYU times all around!

Speaking of people coming into the MTC, ONE MORE WEEK, EMMA!  I was so nervous and now I don't even remember why.  The MTC is just so good.

And this still stands: if you're reading this, I want you to write me. 

Souvenez-vous qui vous êtes!  That's basically my motto all the time, now.  

I love you all so much!

Soeur Lonas