Missions and Christmas

Biggest news of the week: Larry decided he's going to serve a mission. He met with the bishop about it yesterday to find out everything he has to do to prepare for that, but he's planning on going in less than a year, right after he has the opportunity to go through the temple after a year of membership. I feel like I fangirl about this all the time, but I could never say enough that he is a miracle. His testimony strengthens ours every day, we're very grateful we get to keep meeting with him as a recent convert (although now we switch off with the Elders). He has overcome so many challenges throughout his conversion process and I know those experiences have prepared him for people somewhere who are waiting for him, specifically. They are waiting for the hope of the Atonement he will bring into their lives.

Speaking of missions, our ward had a farewell yesterday for Johnathon, who's been a HUGE help to us these last five months (I cannot believe how long I've been here) and he's going to Long Beach, California! I'm so jealous he gets to leave and go to California just as it's getting cold. He keeps asking me if they even play hockey there, I don't know how many times I've told him that in the US hockey is just not what it is for Canada. But he's going to be an amazing missionary, his story is incredible.

It's snowing here, now, which has it's pros and cons. Well, one con. It's freezing. But I had forgotten that I really do love the snow. It is gorgeous and when snow is falling, everything feels like Magic Christmas Sprinkles Land. Maybe that's just because I've seen it snowing so rarely in my life, and I'm sure it will get old before too long, but for now I'm loving it :)

I weighed myself this week, that was not the best decision I've ever made. But I still have so many reasons to feel good about my personal appearance; my leg hair is longer than ever.

I'm struggling to think of what else happened this week that might be interesting to people who aren't me and Sister Schmuhl. But let's be honest, I've pretty much lost touch with who people even are who aren't me or Sister Schmuhl. We've been together for a very long time. Still love her! I feel very blessed to have her as my companion, it's amazing how you can be with someone for five months and still learn from them every day.

We're going caroling tonight to share the new church video "The Savior is Born" with the world, hoping we don't freeze! I love Christmas!

I love all of you! Thank you for still reading my letters! Stay warm, share the new church Christmas video with your friends, and remember who you are ♥
Soeur Lonas

Miracles (and more food, of course)

We were allowed to come to the chapel to watch the cultural celebrating for the temple Saturday night which was so cool! I learned so much more about the culture of Quebec and gained an even greater appreciation for the people here. And it was pretty dang cool having the whole program go back and forth between French and English and actually understanding the whole thing!

And then the temple was dedicated yesterday and that was so special. President Eyring gave the dedicatory prayer. Tomorrow, it will be up and running. We've already seen so many miracles and blessings from this temple and I cannot wait to watch more unfold as members have the chance to go and do work for ancestors they've been researching for the last year and half. Lorenzo had the opportunity to be in the temple for the dedication with our bishop and his family and it was an incredible experience for him, we could not be happier for him and the strides he's making in his life.

We got three new investigators this week! Michel contacted US while we were in the grocery store and he and his ten year old daughter, Florence, are now learning about the restored gospel. Meeting with them was really cool, we had an awesome member with us and the spirit was so strong. Our other new investigator is named Marie-Victoire and she is the wife of the less active brother of another one of our members (yes, confusing). Our first lesson with her was last night and she totally agreed to be baptized and said we could set a date next Sunday when we meet again. Miracle. God is just too good.

Another example of God being just super nice, we were eating with a member this week and they were asking about our Christmas traditions back home and stuff and among many things we said, I mentioned that cherry pie makes it feel like a holiday to me because that's my dad's favorite, and Sister Schmuhl said they always play UNO on Christmas day. After that, they invited us to come over for Christmas dinner and to skype our families at their house and said that we would all play UNO together and then after we gushed about how that was just the nicest thing anyone had ever said, I asked if I could make something to bring and they asked if we could bring a cherry pie. I love baking but I think I love baking even more for people that I love. I love the Barboza-Gomez family and whereas before I was just trying not to think so much about how quickly Christmas was approaching, I am so excited now! I love it here.

This less-active woman Melissa texted us this week and invited us to supper, and it ended up not working out because she had a work thing come up, but later we were talking to her active mother about it and found out that Melissa told her mom that she was so touched by the Spirit at the temple open house that she's thinking about taking the lessons again and doing it with her nonmember husband, and that the original idea to have us over for dinner actually came from her husband, which is awesome! We're hoping that works out this week.

Culinary accomplishment: Last pday, I cut up our pumpkin and made a pumpkin pie out of it -- homemade all the way down to the crust. So, I'm feeling pretty capable. Since then, i have used that same pumpkin to make Mac and Cheese using pumpkin instead of noodles, pumpkin soup, and the dinner plan tonight is pumpkin pancakes. Sister Schmuhl is patient with me :)

We've eaten really good food this week. The Latino members of our ward feed us VERY well. I really need to learn how to make tortillas like that.

It has been a really great week :) I'm pretty convinced that there is nothing more fun than being a missionary. Smile every day, remember that you never know how many people appreciate it but it's absolutely more than you think!

Oh yeah, and I'll hit my six month park this week -- frightening. Still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. And my (hesitant) return date is November 22, 2016, so that's pretty weird. I'm so happy to still have a good year left to keep learning all that the Savior would have me learn and try every day to be more like Him in my service of the people of Quebec. I can't stress how much I love this province. It's very humbling to realize how much more everyone here is doing for me than I could do for them.


I love you all so so much,
Souvenez-vous qui vous etes
Soeur Lonas

That dweam wiffin a dweam

Great week. Really just so many great things. I don't even know where to start.

So I'll start with talking more about the temple open house, it continued to be such an uplifting and edifying experience. Miracle after miracle after miracle. I believe it was impossible for anyone who attended not to feel the Spirit, and it was impossible not to want to make changes to increase the influence of the Spirit in your life -- I know it had that effect on me. We had more less-active members at church yesterday than we ever have before, and they are committed to come every week.

As hostesses we spent all of our time either in the reception tent to greet people after they went through the temple, or in the video rooms getting people situated before they went through and watching the introduction video with them. Watching the introduction video over....and over......and over again. It is a fantastic video. Parts of it really did never get old. Other parts did. It's 12 minutes long, we can quote the whole thing in English and in French. And it's funny, the first time you watch it you don't think it's about marriage. After the fiftieth time, you realize that marriage is all you can think about and that's all any of the Sisters can talk about and that you're slowly being brainwashed by this video. The last two days, we couldn't even watch it anymore, we would just start the video and step out. So that was a fun side effect of all of this, and Sister Schmuhl and I completely planned out our weddings during the slower hours of the day.

Our new morning Larry workout is going very well! We're no longer sore like we were, but I can definitely feel the difference from this morning's exercise after not doing it yesterday.

Here's a funny thing: I haven't shaved since sometime in the middle of September. My legs look like Chase's. And no one needs to know, because I'm never not wearing tights! Haha, it's pretty funny looking at all of our legs next to each other, you really wouldn't know we were women."(from another letter last week, inserted here to provide context for the following paragraph):

Our leg hair is coming along nicely. Maybe I'll send a fun pic home soon. After all, when progress is reported, the rate of improvement increases (wish I had the exact quote on me...didn't think I would need Preach my Gospel to write this letter). (“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” A circumstance probably not foreseen when the phrase was written.)

During personal study this week, I've been reading the General Conference magazine. I LOVE watching and listening to Conference and I definitely wouldn't substitute anything for that, but there's something special about being able to read the talks and go at your own pace and highlight sections and take notes in the margins. I love that. I have felt immensely grateful all over again for inspired leaders and modern revelation.

I am so grateful for temples and I am excited to be able to go and do a session, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I have missed the temple so much these last few months and being there every day has made me SO excited for after the dedication. Which, by the way, is this Sunday :) stoked.

Life is good! Terrebonne is treating me well. I, of course, am freezing, but they're saying that it isn't nearly as cold as it usually is by this time of year and they're actually predicting a pretty "mild" winter. Of course, all things are relative, but I feel very blessed! AND the heating in our apartment starting working two days ago! Turns out, all we had to do was tell the landlord it didn't work. Whoops.

I'm a happy camper :) Jesus loves everyone. The Gospel is true. God has called prophets in our day.


I love you!
Souvenez-vous qui vous etes ♥
Soeur Lonas

My cup runneth over

Words cannot describe the immense love I have felt from my God and Savior this week.  Yeah, I'm not going to try to describe it either because I don't really want to start sobbing while sitting at this computer and then have to go to a lesson with mascara streaking down my cheeks.  But this week has been incredible.

Last Monday every sister in the mission came together for a last training in preparation for the temple open house.  This was a very special experience in itself, the mission isn't allowed to have sister conferences anymore so it was the largest group of sisters ever to be gathered in the mission.  Our training was given by Elder Richards of the Seventy.  We sat in the chapel of the stake center together and he taught us about being guided by the Spirit -- we were told for when we greet people in the reception tent after their tour not to say anything to anyone that wasn't directed by the Spirit.  Just to be there as a smile and presence and a person to turn to with questions.  After teaching us in the chapel, we walked over to temple and went through.  In the second Endowment Room, we all sat again and Elder Richards taught us about the Priesthood and the role of women in the church.  I have never felt the Spirit so strong as I did sitting in the temple with every sister in the mission, President and Sister Patrick, and Elder Richards.  That was a once in a lifetime experience I will always hold very close to my heart.  I am so blessed to be a daughter of God.

Since then, hostessing (adding THAT to the computer's dictionary) at the temple has been so special.  We've been grateful for the Terrebonne Elders and their help holding down the fort here because we're usually out in Longueuil.  We have met so many amazing people.

Everything is just really good.  In reteaching the lessons to Larry, we got to the Word of Wisdom and ended up spilling the fact that we're both pretty insecure about gaining weight on the mission so he has us on a new exercise routine and has given us some dietary advice (he's an MMA fighter and a chef -- good friend to have) and now it hurts just to laugh.  But we're always in a REALLY good mood after exercising in the morning and we're feeling better about ourselves so we've decided it's worth it :) 

Things are great!  We'll be at the temple every day again this week and then next week it's getting things ready for the dedication.  Good things are happening.  It's a wonderful time to be a latter-day saint.

I love you all! 

Souvenez-vous qui vous etes ♥

Soeur Lonas

I'm going to see every season in Terrebonne

Ok, so first things first, we knew that transfer calls were going to be early this time around because President said he wanted everyone to be in their new areas before the start of the temple open house. And then on Wednesday morning we got a text saying that transfer calls were going to be that night -- it was difficult to stay focused that day. But we got transfer calls and Sister Schmuhl and I are both staying here! Again! I'm pretty sure I'm going to live in Terrebonne for the rest of my life! Good thing I love it here :) And this was a particularly significant transfer call because Sister Schmuhl only has two transfers left. Chances are slim to none that she would be put with a new companion for only her last transfer on the mish, so we'll be together for the transfer after this one, too. And she and I flushed into Terrebonne and they wouldn't flush it again that fast, so when she dies (goes home) I'm definitely staying here. And then I'll probably have at least two transfers here with whomever else, so basically I'm here until spring (which doesn't come to Terrebonne until May). Since Wednesday, I've felt more comfortable REALLY settling into the apartment. I'll be here for a while.

There was a special temple open house last night just for missionaries and investigators/less actives/recent converts/recently reactivated members and it was absolutely amazing. We went with Larry and a less active woman we visit, Sally. Such a special evening. Already seeing the miracles pouring out on everyone who has made the time to go. The temple is breathtaking, I cannot wait to be able to go again. Tonight the sisters all have our final training to be hostesses, and mine and Sister Schmuhl's first day as volunteers is Wednesday. We are very blessed with how much she and I will be able to help at the temple, I honestly have no idea why but no one else is on the schedule more than we are. The next couple of weeks will be crazy trying to take care of our area while spending about half of our time on the island, but we are so excited. The Spirit is so strong there.

This week has been a lot of inviting people to the temple open house, and trying to be creative in how we go about it. Favorite finding activity yet: showing up at houses with rakes we borrowed from a member and offering to rake people's leaves. We've had the funniest responses haha, would you believe we've actually been told no?! But it's really helped to open the door into talking about what we do as missionaries and why we're here and we've always been able to leave them with an invitation to the open house -- even the old man in the bathrobe who told us no :)

Halloween is a huge deal here, which isn't my favorite but there you go. We told people we were dressed up as Jehovah's Witnesses. We think we're funny.

Jack is dong great :) We taught the Word of Wisdom this week and we were pretty nervous about it because he has SUPER crazy work hours so we were planning on having a good long talk about coffee and then we started the lesson and he doesn't like coffee, only drinks herbal tea, and quick smoking years ago so basically he's perfect and going to get baptized and we're feeling good. Church is true. There are people who are prepared and searching for truth and that is why it is important to talk to everyone.

Talking to everyone is a lot easier with the knowledge that everyone on earth chose God's plan and is here because they once knew the truth of the gospel. We don't even teach them anything, we just remind them.


The church is true, the book is blue.
Remember who you are! 

Be safe, I love all of you!
Soeur Lonas