Ottawa, part one (and a few pics!)

I was alone on the greyhound bus to come to Ottawa, and I've never felt so much like I was in the Great White North. Two and a half hours of white wilderness whipped by the window. It was incredible.

So, serving in English is different. There are still French speakers in the ward and I feel like I cling to them, I'm so much more comfortable speaking French with members than English. I've gotten way good at speaking my mission language at all times with my companion (sorry, Sister Johnston :) ) because I'm so afraid that I'll lose my French if I don't. I rendered my testimony in Sacrament Meeting yesterday and discovered that apparently a fun new stress-response of mine is to slip into French. Oops.

But I've also felt very grateful realizing how much my French really did improve while I was in Terrebonne. A lot. Like...just...a lot.

The Chapel Hill ward is amazing! They're really nice to the missionaries, and not just because we're the orphaned young adults who need to be fed, but because they want to be involved in the work and they're excited about it. It's really cool. And this ward is HUGE. More than twice the size of Terrebonne. It's pretty overwhelming, but it's cool seeing how many people there are to work with. I am so excited to be here with these people.

Oh, and Ottawa is very, very Canadian. The accent is so real and people eat donuts all the time and every stereotype I've ever had plays out before my eyes daily.

Sister Johnston is amazing :) She has a very strong relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and you can feel it when you talk to her. I feel so blessed for the opportunity to serve with her, and I have a lot to learn from her.

I really miss Terrebonne. I got comfortable there. I knew everyone's schedule, I was settled in, I knew Sister Schmuhl better than almost anyone I've known ever, I knew and loved the ward, I knew who to call to teach with us, I knew what all the keys went to, I could rattle off our phone number in my sleep, I finally spoke the language. I don't know how many times I've said to myself in the last few days "There's no growth in the comfort zone, and there's no comfort in the growth zone." This is really hard for me, being in a new area. But I know it is what I need and it is what the people need.

It had been too long since I had to really rely on my Savior. I'm remembering how. I love Jesus Christ. I love the gospel. And I do already love Chapel Hill.


I love you all!
Souvenez-vous qui vous etes, and passez une bonne semaine :)
Sister Lonas

Saying goodbye in Terreboone

With her new companion, Sister Johnston!