Things I Cannot Recall

Next Chapter

2011-07-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

Im at a loss for what to blog. To many things happening and too many emotions running around my head. A lot of it I don't know if I wanna share.

Im trying to get organized and.. start life again. Its a weird thing to do. But Ive made a decision. Im leaving this blog. Im just gonna start all over again. fresh and new. Im not giving up on this blog. its just finished. So, lets do something different...

Judgment Day

2011-05-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

There is this couple next to me that is drunk/fighting as they use the computers.. They are on opposite sides of the table and he keeps yelling for her to come over and look at something, and she keeps coming, and then he tells her to get away from him.. in very vulgar terms... and she just takes it and goes back to her computer. I would so dump him. In fact, I would probably poor some hot liquid on him and then dump him. Then I would break a window in his car... (but he probably dosent have one).

But she wont. She will probably take it all her life and they will have 4 beautifully miserable kids together and he will be a jerk his whole life and she will do nothing. And then "monkey see monkey do" and the cycle will continue... It is so sad. I hate having to be around this all the time. PA is so ghetto and gross. Dont get me wrong. I love it here. So many people willing to listen. but it is such a miserable little city.

I cant tell you how much missionaries (not from Utah) will make fun of Utah. And I know its not perfect, but I love my happy little vally, and I defend it to the end. I believe it is better than the alternative. This couple is a model of like 30-40% of the relationships up here in PA. It is so disturbing I want to barf.

We were watching mormon messages the other day. We watched one about this civility experiment. It was very good. This homeless man they interview says some very profound things. He talks about how, he believes, there are more ways to do good in this world than to do bad. But its up to us to make the choice. He also says that the majority of people are mostly good. Its hard to believe it, but I do.

That drunk guy just left and, in a loud whisper, ever so "slyly" told his girlfriend that he will go get them a "hit" and they will meet in the van in a few minutes...

And just as I finished that paragraph.. What great timing.

Pray that the second coming holds off until PA is more ready for it.

15 Minutes

2011-05-16T11:32:00.001-07:00

I played my song in Ward conference. I told everyone that I couldnt read music and the rumors started flying about how I had never had a piano lesson in my life and that I play by ear and that I wrote the song... I just let it happen. No harm in it.

Then this one guy visiting from Alberta gets up after church and starts playing the piano all professional like. He was trying to show me up. It was obvious that he was better than me and didnt like all these rumors of my excellence. I messed up like 3 times on my simple song, and he had probably been playing for like 10 years, But no one even payed attention to him. everyone kept coming up to me and asking me what song it was and where I got the composition and I just told them I arranged it myself and let the rumors fly.

Do I feel bad? Not really. I am mediocre at a lot of things, but not 'really good' at anything. I believe they say, "jack of all trades, master of none". But for that day I was a legend, and loving it.

So play on, little punk from Alberta. No ones listening. Your just making a turd of yourself, and not being very classy, I would say. And this is Saskatchewan, redneck capital of Canada, and we dont like your high and mighty type around here.

Put that in your nerd and smoke it.

Squoze

2011-05-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Also, I was just told this week, for the first time in my 21 year old life, the Squoze is not a word... I have always said squoze as the past tense of squeeze... how has no one caught that and corrected me!? I feel like a retard!

Elder Turner sure thinks I am.

We determined that I must have made some connection with the word 'freeze', which is 'froze' is past tense... freeze froze squeeze squoze...

I have also realized that I use the word squozen on occasion..

Thanks for nothing public Education

Neither of us Can Believe It

2011-05-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday I picked up Elder Turner headed back up to PA. Elder Turner is from Japan. He lived there 8 years and moved to the States. He is from Las Vegas now. He is not Japanese. He just was at one point.

We have been getting along really well. But some eerie junk is going on.. Someone told him before he got with me, that he would enjoy it because we are so similar. But he didnt really believe it.. But since he has been here we have discovered that we have the same body wash and scrubber (which did NOT come in a set) we use the same batteries, watch all the same shows, are the same height, have the same shoe shine kit, are both known mission wide for keeping the apartment clean, and we both always sleep with the wall to our right... I mean, sleeping with the wall to your right!? Come on! I always thought I was weird for doing that..

He is not shy at all, which is a big change from the last 6 months of companions I have had. He talks during lessons! I dont even have to stare at him for 40 seconds! Its great!

I'll miss the Mann, but Turner and I are also getting along great.

Pres Monson does his thing

2011-04-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

He starts by telling us that there are 3 new temples in the works! Great! First in Colorado. Second in Idaho... Well. Ill just let you watch this. he tells it better.

...The 3rd.. in Canada. In Manitoba. In Winnipeg... In this mission!!!

I couldnt contain myself! I wanted to jump up and down or clap or yell or something! Everyone one in the chapel (like 4 people) was shocked and mildly happy. But to them it was just another temple in Canada. For me, it was a Temple in Canada! And in Winnipeg of all places! My Mission! A temple for MY people! I was so happy for my fellow saints in Winnipeg. I was so happy. It made me feel like I had accomplished something! I was buzzed. What a great way to start off conference.

The rest was also good.

Patience is great

2011-03-14T14:32:00.001-07:00

She is sometimes hard to understand, but she is great. She said the closing prayer last time, and she had her son bring her a blanket to cover her head, and she sang a song first and then said this LONG and FAST prayer in her native laguage. it was wonderful. I wish we prayed like that. She wants to come to church, but wants to wait till she gets a Job so she can use the excuse of work to sneak to our church... oh boy.. She is hilarious. I hope we dont get her in trouble with the JW's. Or get ourselves in trouble with them..

All I know it that if things get rough, at least I can get blood transfusions...

The church is true. And Patience says that if it is true we have to do everything we can to go to it. even if it means cutting off our finger.... again.. she is great.

3 Stories For You

2011-03-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

Her name is Sandy

So, we were tracting this street. 7th st. E. to be exact. 900 block. And we were just about to go in, because it was 5 to 9. I know this sounds cliche, but it was literally the last house we were going to knock on. 909 A (it was like a duplex). So we knock and this lady comes to the door. Elder Schumann introduces us and she immediately says "No thank you, I am not interested AT ALL with religion." Elder Schumann asked why and she said that she has been going through a really hard time for 4 years, and God has not helped her at all. She prayed and prayed... and nothing has changed. Then I started to testify to her that God did, in fact, love her, and that he wanted to help her. She just needed to draw nearer to him first. She then tells us a bit about her situation. "I dont drink," she says "I dont smoke, and yet, my 9 year old little girl is stuck with my alcoholic ex-husband, because he has money, and money talks" She goes on to explain that none of her children are living with her. But she is most heart broken about her little girl, because they are all drinkers, and she dosent want her to go that way. At this point i said something else, but i dont remember what it was. She looks at us for a while and says, I cant have you standing out there in the cold, come in and ill make you some hot chocolate.

Wow. I have never had a contact turn from that into THAT. But it gets better.

We sat with her a while and asked if we could share a bit of our message. she says yes. We explain the book of Mormon and tell her that this will bring her the happiness she is looking for. It wont fix all her problems, but it will give her hope and bring her at peace with God. She starts to talk again about her kids, and how she can tell that we were well raised and that being kind to people was important to us. She said her kids dont know that. "I would rather have you sitting her, playing cards with me or whatever, than my own kids". She said "When you come back I'll have too..." and then I didnt hear what she said, because all I could think about was her inviting us back! We never said anything about coming back... She must have caught herself too, because after she said. "You know, I think it would be a good idea for you to come back. I could really use some hope right now".

Wow.. powerful. The spirit was so strong.

Her name is Patience

So the next day, we are finishing up that same street. Nothing much happened, and it was time to go in for lunch, But because of some scheduling stuff, Elder Schumann asked if I wanted to keep tracting another half hour and go in later. I said sure, not really wanting too, because it was so cold. But it must have been a prompting too him, because at one of the houses this BIG black lady came to the door, and with absolutely NO hesitation said "Come in", so we stepped in. Then she said "Sit down". and points to her couch. I was actually a little hesitant.. I didnt know what was up.. did she think we were someone else? We sat down and she just sits there, holding her very cute, very wide eyed baby girl on her lap. She dosent say anything... so we start talking. And she is just listening to everything we say and loving it. She says she is Jehovah Witness, but that she dosent like it very much, because she likes to pray, and she dosent like their prayers. She said her spirit will get weak if she dosent pray. She told us that she had been fasting, and she was just about to end her fast with a prayer, and we came to the door. She said "God sent you". She is so great! she is from Nigeria. Dad said he baptized a Nigerian man on his mission. So i have to baptize this lady and her family. They are so funny. The culture is so different and friendly. i love it. She just invites us inside instead of making us talk to her at the door. That is normal to her! I am going to do that all the time now. It was so funny and I am already in love with her family.

His name is Eduardo

I also met this man from the Philippines. He is already a member. He is amazing. We went over to teach his roommate, who ended up not being there for the lesson. so we just taught him. He shared with us his conversion story. He was born roman catholic. Everyone in the Philippines is. He wasnt content though, and so he searched. He became a Born Again Christian. His first in counter with the church was around this time, I believe. There was a man, that would walk to church and pass his house. He lived somewhere down the block, but he didnt know him. But he would always sit on his porch as he walked by, and the member would always shout "Hello my friend!" and walk on by.

He never knew he was a member. A year or so later, the man stopped coming by. and a while after that, this man got a job in Saudi Arabia. While he was there, he met the other men he was working with, one of the men came up to him and said "I know you! You are my friend!" It was the same man that passed him on the street on his way to church. In the next couple of month, he was introduced to some of the teaching of the Gospel by him, and by another man, who was a return missionary. They did not have scriptures in Saudi Arabia. It was against the law, and you could receive the death penalty for it. So they just talked. His friend told him "All you have to do to know that this is true, is to pray, very hard, and ask God". So he did. That night, he had a dream about a beautiful white building. It looked like a church. He asked his friend about it, and he pulled out a picture of the temple in the Philippines. "Is this is?" He asked. "Yes! Thats the church! What Church is this". He said, "this is a Temple. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". He said "I want to go there". But his friend said that he had to be a member of the church. "He said, "...Ok, Teach me about your church".

In the next few weeks the return missionary and his friend taught him the 6 discussions. He took lots of notes, he said. He was especially intrigued by eternal families. That is what he wanted. At the end of the discussions his friend asked him if he wanted to be baptized. He said yes, "I want to be baptized NOW. Can you baptize me now?" Unfortunately, they had to say no. They explained that they did not have the priesthood keys to do so.. He was heart broken.. they told him that when he had vacation time, find the Elders and tell them you want to be baptized. He had to wait something like 6 months before he had 1 month of vacation time. He went back to the Philipinnes and told his wife "I want to marry you for time and all eternity. Do you want to be with me forever" She said yes. and so he called the missionaries. they lived 2 hours away from his house... he had to travel there every week to retake the discussions. He took them 2 at a time. He was baptized the end of the month. Some how, he got permission to receive the priesthood and baptize his wife the same day... That wouldnt fly anymore. But it is romantic in this story. He is now away from home once again, in Canada. But he now has a large family, all in the covenant. He has helped 27 people to accept the Gospel. And that is just from HIM alone. Not including all the people that they have now helped, and also his son, who just returned from his mission. This guy is amazing.

I Can't Get Too Mad

2011-02-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

We are teaching one of the Halcro girls friends. Her name is Cassie. She is super funny, and I am excited to work with her. She is super down to earth and really thinks about the things we tell her and ask her todo. She is thinking about baptism and we learned about why she hasnt decided on a date yet. She just wants the support of her parents, and shes not getting that from her mom yet. Her dad sounds good though.

She said she leaves for a soccer trip on July 15th. That is my freaking 2 year mark! She said it is very possible for her to be baptized before that.

that is great. We will get 'er. She is gonna be great.

A New One Every Month

2011-02-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

So we met a lady named Kathleen last week. She was very timid, but super nice. She said we could come back "anytime". So we went back on Sunday (not like we had to go to church or anything). We taught her about the restoration and it went really well! We invited her to be baptized and she accepted! She said she really wanted to start going to a church.

She is super! We just got done teaching her about an hour ago, and she said the closing prayer and asked for a comfirmation that the Book of Mormon was true. She said that she felt so happy after the prayer. She just felt really good, she said. She got her answer. Man! I cant baptize these people fast enough! haha!

We're Cool

2011-02-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

We went to the Halcro's twice. They are so fun! Sister Halcro is a Mckay, and reminds me of mom because her obsession with chocolate. Although she is not weird like mom, because she likes MILK chocolate! The best kind. So we get chocolate when we go there. Brother Halcro is always cracking jokes, in ANY situation, and is supper funny. (ex. When his oldest daughter was born, RIGHT AFTER SHE WAS DELIVERED he turns to the doctor and says "I'm just glad shes not Chinese!" and the confused doctor asks why. He says "Well, I heard 1 in ever 3 babies born now adays is Chinese." bu dum cheee. haha! love it. He had to be saving that one for a while) Already love the Halcros BTW. I'm glad I'll be living with the Scheiss' after the mish, so I can go visit them on occation.

As Usual

2011-02-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

We waited for the transfer train to come in from Winnipeg.. They were REALLY late. Turns out that they all got pulled over for tickets!.. so that delayed things. Well 12 o'clock rolls around and they still werent there! Then we got a phone call from the sisters "The Elder Rolled off the road! They rolled over like 4 times!"

So the ZLs run off and we are left there.. wondering. Then they call and say "Find a place to sleep. We are gonna be a while"

So we all leave, But we took a detour to go see the wreck. The truck was upright, and no one was there. So we called the sisters and they told us what happened. The Elders are fine. Slipped on ice and went over the overpass.. They didnt have any blockers to keep cars from falling off that thing... thats stupid.

One of the Sisters is brand new. She was heading for her first area.. what a welcome. CWM!

So much better than texting

2011-02-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

It all started when I lost a key, and my oil vile in a field. A field of SNOW! remember how I said we had 4 feet? Well sometimes I just cant help running through it. It is so fun!

There is a playground in the middle of this field and I ran to the monkeybars, did a backflip and jumped in the snow and it was great... then that night.. I realized I didnt have my key.. or my vile. I was only a little upset, because we also set a couple of baptism dates with our new investigators Christie and Frank. They are great. Both 20. Im actually older than them! it is really weird to teach people your age..

Anyway. We decided to go back the next day and look for them.... I was SO certain we would never find them. 4 feet of snow remember! But I didnt doubt that God knew right where they were, and he would lead me to them, if it was in his plans.

So I prayed, and looked, and found nothing. I followed my foot steps into the far end of the field before I decided that it was ridiculous and i would never find anything.

So I started walking back, But instead of logically following my footsteps back, I decided i wanted to trounced through the deep snow back. Then in the middle of the feild, I stumbled upon a imprint of my body after jumping in the snow... I sat there for a minute... just taking it in. I knew my key was going to be here.. I dont know how. I just felt it.

I dug around lightly, where they key would have fallen out of my pocket.. and there it was... A small miracle. I thanked Heavenly Father, then asked about my oil vile. I kept digging, but it wasnt there. I felt like I should check one more time at the monkey bars.. But I had checked there thoroughly before.. But I went anyway.

There were a lot of holes in the ground where I dug there... but I picked a hole, and started digging.. Nothing for a while... So I kept digging. I was about to give up, thinking that finding the key was good enough, and I was pushing my luck with the Big Guy. I was the one that was stupid enough to run through the snow with a stray key and oil vile in my pocket...

So I stopped.... and looked up. And there, on top of the pile of snow I was just digging out of the hole, was my snow cover vile. You could barley even see the gold through the snow around it... I cant even describe to you what I felt in that moment.. Shock, Awe, Peace, Love, EXCITEMENT! I pick it up slowly and walked back to the car where my comp was waiting. I showed it to him and said "God answers prayer"

-40 C day

2011-01-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

At -40 they always issue a frost bite warning. Frostbite within mintues! Sometimes seconds, if the wind is blowin' hard. This winter has been SO crazy! We have about 4 feet of snow outside right now. I haven't seen the ground in a long time. And People are running out of places to put it all! Their driveways are PILED on either side. Some of the piles are as tall as me. And people are on their roofs shoveling them off, for fear that they will collapse.

According to the farmers almanac, we have less than HALF of the snow we are expected to get this year.... 8 feet! HOLY JUNK! That is a butt load of snow... Lucky the farmers almanac is a load of garbage. No one can predict the weather that far in advance... or at all, for that matter. But who knows. Its been right before (probably).

Mom said something about winter only being 4 months long... its starts snowing in october here, and ends about april... hopefully. It should all be melted in may. How long is that?

this year may be a bit different. late May, early June. thats when I expect all THIS snow to melt.

My mission is so cool. (no pun intended)

CWM's finest!

2011-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Prez told us a while back that he might pull us out. Then this week, we were on exchanges, and I was with our (former AP) DL. And Prez called to tell me, he was pulling us out.. for sure.

I was freaking, because (A) We had been doing really good this week, but he didnt know, cause he dosent find out till the end. And (B) How were we going to find the motivation to go out and find people.. when 2 weeks into the transfer Prez basically says "Dont Bother"..

Well our DL didnt like the idea of us leaving, So that night he calls up the APs and gives them a talking to. I wasnt there for the convo, but one of our ZLs (Elder O'driscoll, He's super great) told us he was telling them it was a 'Poor Decision' and he wanted to know why. Crazy. He was defending our area hard core.

Then he talked to Prez and Prez basically said "Find them an apartment or their out". He really dosent like us living in the church... So the next day he tells that to Prez Harrold (BP) and he is like... "Oh.. ok.." Its sad, because he talks all about how the missionaries are the blood of this branch.. and if they left... it would kill them... sad.. and when Prez told me we were outta here, he said I had to tell everyone! I was scared. I didnt want them to think we werent doing work or something..

Well, we went and talked to this realestate guy, and we hadnt really found a suitable apartment in the past, but this guys says that one just opened for cheap and is 2 bedroom and refurbished and is on a month to month lease! Just perfect for Prez!

So we check it out and it is great! We aren't getting it though, We are waiting till one upstairs in the same place opens up. It is it a better location i guess, but is not as nice looking.. but missionary apartments are supposed to be I guess..

So God wants us in Melville. That is all there is to it. And we killed it this week. Prez called to congratulate us. I once had the AP's call to tell me i did good, but never Prez. Man, So good.

I'm goin' to the Jo-Ho's

2011-01-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

We met a lot of Jo-Ho's (Jehovah's Witnesses) this week. We had one invite us in the other day. She was SO nice. She was super great and just wanted to talk about the bible and was genuinely interested in what we believe, not because she wanted to join, but because she was curious. So its wasnt all the normal JW junk about trying to convert us and stuff. She was SO animated.. almost comically so.. you would have been good friends. her name was Bunny..

We talked with them about how we believe Jehovah is Jesus. They thought we were crazy. She offered us tea, and we said we didnt drink tea. She said "Oh, thats right, you dont drink anything black." Then she asked if Hot chocolate was ok. we said yes.. But I was confused about what she said about "black drinks". Turns out they thought that we didnt drink anything black, because Cain was cursed to be black... haha! oh boy. Never heard that one before. She thought we were raciest against drinks! bwaaha! We taught them the WOW.

Well, It's all over...

2010-12-27T21:17:00.001-08:00

Elder Liechty,

I am sorry to report that your driving privileges have been suspended for the remainder of your mission. If missionaries are involved in any preventable accident that requires a claims adjuster or that could lead to litigation or action against the Church, they automatically lose their driver certification and are not allowed to drive again during their mission. Any exceptions must be approved by the Missionary Department after all the facts have been reviewed. Your certification has been revoked as of 22Dec2010.

While you are waiting for your car to be repaired, no car will be reassigned!!* While waiting for the repair of your vehicle, you and your companion are essentially walking*. Once the vehicle is repaired, Elder Stokes will be the designated driver.

Elder Paulson

*Emphasis added

Sooo.. while driving down a unlit gravel road covered in snow and ice, late at night, somewhere on a farm in backwoods Saskatcha'bush'... I some how crashed our car in a ditch. Oh yeah. And it was overcast too.

And now that its happened, and I have officially lost my driving privileges and every ounce of pride I once had... I have nothing to do but laugh with 'em.

It was stupid. But it makes a GREAT story.

We got stuck. We got REAL stuck. Not just "grab your ford pick up and a ratchet tie" stuck. Im talking tow-truck-rocking, more-damage-getting-out-than-

in stuck. It was bad... I mean good! Stuck real good.

I tend to exaggerate, I know. But trust me, although I AM exaggerating, im doing it that much.

And yes we caught air. At LEAST a few inches.

I told the police i was going about 50-60 ks. (not to fast.. for a back road) But that was just a guess. I had no idea how fast I was going. Probably closer to 60 than 50.

Anyway. We were coming back from a lesson that lasted far too long, with a less active member who lives much to far away from our home. The only reason we were visiting him was because it was on our way back from the baptism.

It was about 9:00 and we still had 45 min till we would be home. Anyway. He lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere. And we were driving down his... driveway? (its like a road leading to his house, but its half a mile long." Well, thats supposed to lead us back to the road that takes us to the main road. Problem is, his driveway? "T"s when it comes to this road. I didnt see the "T" soon enough. And... Breaks... Slide... Ditch... Crash...

You get it.

many phone calls later we were on our way home. The member and his wife were SO helpful and I will always be grateful. We were given permission to drive one of their cars home, after a failed attempt to get our car out. He even went to get his bobcat.. and he got it stuck! there is a LOT of snow out in the middle of nowhere.

So. the next day we came and got everything sorted out and got the tow guy and figured out a ride for us and it took the whole day. Super lame, and gave me a head ache.

So the week was lame. Because we had to walk.. But we were still able to do a bunch of stuff for Christmas and people have been nice to take us places. Its been good. I feel bad.. but not that much.

We will see what happens

2010-12-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

I told all the youth in the branch (there are a TON) to read the Book of Mormon, and whoever does it the fastest gets a prize. Some of them are competing for my name tag. One of their friends, who is not a member, is doing it too. We really want to teach her soon. How cool would that be if she has already read the BOM.

They all started THAT day! One of the kids was on like 2 Nephi that night! Crazy. If only it was that easy to get investigators to read.

Love Melville

2010-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

The Gerstners were wonderful. You walk into their home, and you would never guess they were less active. Pictures of the prophet on the wall, "Ensigns" all over. We talked forever about heart surgery, pork pie and a vision Sister gerstner had about a naked man on an alabaster stone bench (?). So funny. I could not stop smiling the whole visit. They all talk over eachother (brother and sister Gerstner and their 40 year old son that lives with them) So hilarious. I got a picture with them after. I love them. They gave us REAL scottish shortbread afterwards. So sweet.

2010-12-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

This man we have been teaching, named Chuck (who is the funniest guy ever) came up to me in church and said, "I want to be baptized. when can we do it." We have been working with him for about 3 months, and he always said he wasnt ready, but he has been reading the BOM everyday. He is saying morning prayers and he is coming to church whenever he can. He is ready.

Then he said "Are you gonna be able to hold me? I'm like 250 pounds!" I was shocked. He is a big guy, but i was shocked because he wanted ME to baptize him.. I amlost started to cry (and I kinda did later that night, reflecting on it) I have never been asked to baptize anyone before. And I love Chuck so much. He is so funny. And Brenda (his Girl) is so hilarious to talk to. I love every moment I get to spend with them. But also... transfers are comming up, so I may not be able to do this one.. its bitter sweet. But im just glad he is doing it.

So that is happening in January, after he gets married. . We meet some wonderfully prepared people.

It's a Wonderful Life.

2010-12-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

We watch a Christmas movie every year for Christmas Zone Conference.

I was pretty excited. I grew up watching that movie! I love it. I love all the old movies and their over-glamorous actors and actresses and perfect camera shots and crummy special effects. It just makes me smile the whole time.

I felt like a little kid again. In my Christmas PJ's snuggled up and the foot of the couch (their was never room for me ON the couch when all the older kids were there), eating very sticky homemade caramel popcorn.

Everyone around me was upset that we had to watch another OLD movie and I was just beaming.

I don't know what their problem was.. at least it was in color.

I Bring The Party

2010-11-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

We did not get invited to a members home for Thanksgiving. And thats just fine by me. They wouldn't have known how to do it right anyway. Last year was good, the Craigs and the Zaharchucks fed us and all the other missionaries in Brandon. They did a wonderful job, and I knew we wouldn't get that kind of treatment this time around. So I was fine by myself. I have become quite the self proclaimed chef on my mission. I made us a pork roast and pork ribs. we have lemon barbecue chicken and mashed potatoes. We also had salad and cooked pees and carrots. Not bad for just grabbing everything i could find in our freezer. It looked like a feast! and it was! I loved it.

No stuffing or turkey, but we did our best.

We Will Get Along

2010-11-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

So we had to drive to Regina to drop off Elder Mitton and to pick up Elder Stokes. The roads were SO bad. I dont know why, but that always seems to happen when we have to drive in. There was an ice storm that morning in Melville and a snow storm in Regina. We had to chip off half an inch of ice from out windshield before we could even leave.

So, somewhere along the road, the two storms met, and it was just chaos. We were stuck behind a snow plow going 30ks for about 30 min... ahh! But we made it alive.

But on our way back... no so lucky...................... We died..

no, just kidding. But we did get stuck.. our front right tire caught the side of a snow bank and it just pulled us right off the road. I tried to avoid it, but the car didnt want to turn. So we went in. It actually wasn't bad. It was just like parking on the side of the road. Very smooth. And we weren't even that far off. But there was no way we were getting back.

Luckily we were only about 30 min out of Regina, and we still had service. We had to wait about 2 hrs for the ZLs to come pull us out with their truck. But the tire pressure on our front right was really low. So we decided not to continue. And we headed back to regina.

Walmart said their was no leak... but it was still leaking.. (idiots) So we didnt drive back. that night.

I got to see Sister Horning and Elder Christensen because we met the other missionaries being transfered. It was great.

The next morning.. our tired had stopped leaking. So... We drove home.

Well we stopped in Fort Qu'Appelle (which is about 45 min from Melville) to check our tire, and it was still fine. So we kept going.... It wasnt until we got back that Elder Stokes realized he didnt have the phone...

He dropped it in the snow in Fort Qu'Appelle... AHHH!! They told us they would send us a new phone.. it would be 75 bucks each... yeah right!

We asked Prez Harrold if he would drive us to Fort Qu'Appelle to see if we could find it. He did. And not only that he bought us doughnuts and hot chocolate! He is a great man.

And we found the phone. great!

But thats not all. We went tracting in Yorkton. It was about 7:00, so pretty dark. And as we are walking around.. this cop car pulls up. The guy gets out of his car and comes right up to us. "Are you the ones knocking on peoples doors and ringing their doorbells?" "....yes...." "Come have a seat." He has us sit on a bench for a while. he sees our tags and our ties and we show him our license and our ministerial certificate. Then he is all nice to us and says "I dont think many B&E's wear white shirts and ties."

He was actually pretty funny. He let us sit in the back of his cop car. He told us that some one called the cops on us. Jerks... But thats the first time that has ever happened on my mission. After he said. "Im not gonna tell you to stop.. because its your job and you have the right." it was great.

So... Crazy. And all in the first couple days...

Whats in store..

Its a Halloween Miracle!

2010-11-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

We taught the Littletents for the FIRST time since I've been here. They are a Less Active family, and only the dad and one of his little girls have been baptized. And I feel like they have been avoiding us like the plague! But yesterday Justine (the Little girl that was just baptized (14)) came to church, which wasn't surprising because she LOVES church and will come whenever she can, But her little sister Shynika came (also not too surprising) and her brother Kellie. And (this is the surprising part) her older sister Morning Dove came! (they are Native American, hence the name Littletent) Well that was great! So we tried to set an appointment up, but we called the parents and they said they would call back, but they didn't.. so we didn't think it would happen. But we saw them walking around Melville, so we stopped to talk with them, and they said come by at 7:00.

So we did! And we had a really good time getting to know them and talking about the Book of Mormon. Then we talked about why Justine Decided to be Baptized... I have never heard a testimony like that for ANY 14 year old. She talked about how she wanted to belong to the church and that she heard from her friends about how good it felt to be Baptized. Then she talked about how she felt so clean after baptism and that she gets this warm feeling every time she prays and she cant describe it. But what she said that i think was most impressive.. she said she wanted to be an example to her brother and sisters...

Justine is a quiet girl.. this was completely out of character.. and heartfelt.

We talked with Morning Dove (17) and Shynika (11) and their mom about how they were feeling about baptism. They just said they were thinking about it. So we talked a bit about prayer and about how they would get an answer if they asked if they should be baptized. I felt bad, because i thought it would have been good to be more bold, But their dad is still really into the traditional ways, and i didn't want to offend them. I wanted them to like me so i could come back!

So we just left it at that.

Then we asked who wanted to give the closing prayer. Justine offered it. At the end, we were standing up to leave, and no more than 5 seconds after we said amen, Morning Dove says "I want to be baptized." We sat back down! She said it again "I want to be baptized. I dont know... I just feel something inside me. Its, like, screaming. I want to be baptized.... i cant explain it..."

Shocked. Needless to say...

"I want to be baptized."

...The Spirit ROCKS!

I love my mission.

Love It

2010-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

We met this family tracting. Total miracle! We knock on this door, one of the last ones we were going to do, and the lady comes out and looks shocked... It was really weird at first, but then shes like "Mormons!" Which is weird because lots of people think we are Jehovah Witnesses. (the Church isn't very big in this mission)

Then she goes on to tell us that she is a member! she was baptized in Winnipeg and she moved to Cardston. She went to the temple (for baptisms i believe) and she got her patriarchal blessing. She moved to Yorkton.. and soon after, the branch there closed and moved to a town called "Carry the Kettle". She had no idea there was a church in Melville.

None of her family are members. She wants us to come teach them...

The biggest miracle of my mission!

The Temple

2010-11-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

YES! I was so excited! my first time to the temple in 15 months!

Well... we woke up in the morning.. and the snow was still going and the wind was still blowing... we tried to get the other elders truck going.. but it got stuck in the middle of the parking lot... So we go for our car, which is in a better location.

Well we got out ok.. but the street were crazy.. I will never forget that night. It was dark and there was like 6 inches of snow on the roads. Everywhere we went people were getting stuck. The normal road we would take to get to the temple was not accessible.. it was about 5:20 at this point. our session was starting at 6:00.

We tried to drive around a different way. When the weather is this bad, traffic rules no longer apply. People are parked in the intersection and flipping U-ies where ever they can. no one pays attention to what color the traffic lights are. certain streets are blocked off.. your in a maze, and you are just trying to find your way out.

Well, the other route we wanted to take was also blocked. 5:30.

We turn around and try the last possible way.. and we find all the other Elders parked on a bridge. Someone got stuck in the middle. and they were trying to move them...

We get out and see what is going on. There is no way anyone is getting through... 5:45 We were within walking distance of the temple.. but not that quick.. Darn you Satan!

There were some people parked behind us, so I thought I better go tell them that no one was getting through any time soon. I talked to this lady, and she told me that she had already made it through on the other side when she was going the other way.. I was so excited! We might make it!

She said she was going to try it.. (driving on the wrong side of the road.. again. no traffic rules) so we watched her. And she made it!

5:50. We jump in our car and follow her tracks. It looked like really deep snow. It was really scary... But we mad it too!

We park and run back to tell the other Elders we were going. We get back in the car and drive as fast as we can on slippery snowy roads.... but.... when we pull into the temple parking lot.. 6:10..

We walk inside. It felt so good to be in a temple. Even the waiting room. It felt like home. Canada is crazy.. And for the first time, everything just felt normal again... One of the temple workers comes up to us and tells us they held the session for 5 min... but it had already started and they couldn't let us in... No session for us.

Everyone looks at me.. I am the only one that hasn't been to the temple yet...

But I was ok.

What an adventure!

I'll never forget it.

We Dont Have a Font in Melville

2010-10-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

So, we drove with Brother Markle (Jack) to his baptism. When we got there, the font was maybe half full... Do you know how long it takes to fill those things!? man... So we started half an hour late, and it was still pretty shallow. It took 4 times to get him under. They really had to push him down hard. He looked so scared the whole time... But they got him.

Maybe we should have taken the time to explain why we were dunking him repeatedly... oh well!

WOULD YOU BELIEVE!?

2010-10-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

The other day, Elder Mitton and I were laying in bed (not together...) and we heard this noise coming from upstairs. I thought it was the pipes, but Elder Mitton was certain it sounded exactly like someone walking around the Shop. (we live under a members printing business).

Luckily I was given a machete by a departing missionary as my inheritance. So grabbed it, and we went upstairs to kill the intruder. But we turned the lights on, and no one was there...

So it was the pipes right? But the thing is... when we went back down stairs.... the noise had stopped...

Coincidence....?

Believe it!

Listen To This

2010-10-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

We all know that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End. And we can find ALL of that in the book of Mormon.. But did you know that it is set up perfectly to teach us them.. and in order too!

This is the story. Sister Zebrowski was told she would be teaching about Moroni in gospel doctrine class in her ward some years ago. But it was FULL of very intelligent people who had been mission presidents and return missionaries and such. She wondered how she would teach them something NEW about this great prophet.. But she didn't know what to do. She prayed about it throughout the week, asking for help. Then, one day, she woke up a few minutes before her alarm. She saw what time it was and tried to go back to sleep, but she heard a voice tell her "Moroni is a perfect example of Enduring to the end".. She thought "That's perfect! That is how I will teach about Moroni. So she tried to go back to sleep. But the Lord wasn't done. "Nephi is a perfect example of Faith" "Alma is a perfect example of Repentance" And in third Nephi Christ teaches us the true way of Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

God Crafted the Book Of Mormon for us. The Stories included are not coicidence. The Church is true.

Our Apartment

2010-10-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

I'm now in Melville and The George went to be DL in another part of the city. Whitewashed in, Whitewashed out. like a dirty crime. Did the deed and got out fast.

Our Apartment is a basement apartment. We live under the business of a member. Its got one bathroom, one bedroom, a Kitchen, one class room, one Chapel, a Clerks office... oh. yeah. thats right. I live in the church! Crazy huh?!

I dont even know how to describe it to you fully. But just picture this... When our bedroom door is open.. its our apartment.. when its closed.... THE CHURCH! Crazy. I guess we have some extra incentive to keep it clean..

Melvin Keith Jorgenson

2010-10-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

Melvin Keith Jorgenson was baptised this Friday, and confirmed on Sunday. It was unforgettable!

The Service was nice. Because of the awkward time (5:30 on a friday), only the people on the program came, but Mel wanted it to be small anyway. His dear friend (and recent convert) sister Rossett gave a talk. she was so nervous, it was her first time. and Brother Schiess gave one as well. Mel was so nervous in the water. we could hear him talking from beyond the closed doors. Talking about how nervous he was. I thought the fount was filled pretty high... but it barely reached his waist. He is a BIG guy. He didn't want to bend backwards.. he was scared he wouldn't be able to get back up.. Turns out its was all OK though, cause he floats pretty good. They really had to shove him.. His foot came up the first time. He was devastated. He did NOT want to do it again.. I was almost positive he was gonna give up and say "No, that's it. That's enough. The Good Lord will understand.." But he didn't. He's a trooper. He went down the second time. As he came up out of the water, the first words he said were "Shoot! My D*mn foot came up!" HAHA! But it didn't break the surface. He was good.

While they changed I did a musical number, it was good. We had another Elder play a version of "come thou fount" as I sung the words to "Joseph Smith First Prayer" and timed it to fit as we had the audience watch a silent clip of the first vision from the Restoration movie. It was really really good. Refreshments afterwards.

That was it. The craziest baptism ever. I didn't expect anything less. So informal. So "Mel". Just prefect.

Being a missionary rocks!

I'm just lucky I guess

2010-09-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Elder Quinton L. Cook of the quorum of the 12 is coming the the Saskatoon Stake (Reorganization) Conference! He will be interviewing for new Stake President. They haven't changed Prez is 11 years! Since the Stake was made! ha ha! He is so ready to get out of there! He has had us over for dinner a few time and I can just tell.

Well. Melvin has quit smoking. It is so good! he says he can never smoke again because he doesn't want anyone to find out and get mad. ha ha! He is 5 days clean. So he is all set for his Baptism on the 17th! He keeps saying he wants to get it over with, he wants to be a member all ready! ha ha!

A New Record!

2010-08-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

MEL CAME TO CHURCH! WOOOOOO! This is the first time an investigator has come to church from this area since Leon got baptised 6 months ago!

So things are looking up. But It really is stressful to have someone at church... all the talks were on missionary work, and I was like... "MAN he is gonna be so bored!" But afterwards people were talking to him, and he said one of the talks just hit him *points to his heart* right here. HAHA! He is so old. I bet he doesn't even know what the talks were about, but he loves people and talking to people and people talking to him, so I think he chooses his favorite talks based on who gave them..

So, he has a bad leg, and sitting on the hard seats is torcher for him.. so after sacrament he said "I think I'm gonna sit this next class out." and he went and sat on the couch.... Then when its ends, he goes to the bathroom and we are waiting to go to the next class.. and he comes out of the bathroom and goes and sits on the couch again! we were like "do you want to come to class?" and he said "no, i don't think my legs quite ready."

SO! 2 hours of sitting in the hall... BORING! But I got a hold of bishop and asked if there were any cushier chairs. he said to take the wing seats anywhere we want. but by that time Mel says "The class is just about over now, we will do it next week.." ..... 45 minutes later class ends.

AHH!! but it was funny. We will try the chair thing next week.

so, thats our great news. 1 at church!

President Called

2010-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

I missed the call because we were contacting this lady. But as soon as we were done, I looked and saw the message and freaked out.. I immediately thought "Emergency transfer". Elder George thought NO. He thought he might just be calling to talk about presidents letters.. yeah right. In the middle of the day? I listened to the message and it said "Elder George, Elder Liechty, this is President Paulson. Give me a call back when you have a chance." That was it... He didnt sound happy either.

I immediately started to think if we had done anything wrong... Nothing! We have been perfect! So... EMERGENCY TRANSFER! Thats all it could be.

We called back.. and my fears were confirmed! Almost.

President told me that there was a "possibility" that I would be transferred.. He said there is a missionary somewhere in the mission that wants to leave his area. And he might come join Elder George. And I would have to go be with this other missionary. Well then Prez talked to Elder George and was telling him he thought I could go senior and asking him if he thought I was ready. Man.. I told Prez I didnt really want to leave.. Things are just starting to happen here.

So he said he would get back to us.

Then, the next day, transfers came in. Sister Horning is in the zone. For the first time EVER we are serving in the same zone. At least for now.. But she was talking to me and said she was so excited and how she thought she would never serve around me, because one of the assistants told her she never would... I was just like... "Yeah........"

Well, then we had some exciting news. MEL has picked a date! Sep. 17th! So we will be working with him on quitting smoking soon! he said he would start today!

But, since we got a date with him, we got to call Prez. So we did, and talked for a while about the date and who Mel was and stuff. And then he was about to go, so I quickly asked him about the transfer. He started to laugh a little bit and said that he didnt know.. He had heard from the missionary 3 times that day. Once saying he wanted to stay.. then he wanted to go.. now he wanted to stay.. so he said he will probably just make him stay for the full 6 weeks. But again, he would let us know.

Pain Cant Stop Me

2010-08-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

I got bit by a dog! NO JOKE! In Canada of all places! I never thought to worry about that happening! It was a stupid little pug! We are stopping by some kid who said he might be interested, and his brother says he is not there, and then we hear this dog barking and running from behind him and he barrels out the door, and runs right into the leg of my Comp. He doesn't attack or anything.. but then he walked around for a bit... Then jumps up at me and bites me on the hand! The guy at the door didn't even know it bit me. He just grabs the dog, takes him inside, and closes the door.. and I'm standing there, open mouthed... with a bloody thumb..

I was in shock.

It didn't hurt that bad.. but I was mad.. I couldn't believe I actually got bit by a dog.

Well, we had taken a 10 min. bus ride to get to their house.. and the next bus didn't come for another hour.. So we had to walk all the way back to the apartment to dress my wound. (Elder George was like "Do you want to go back.. or could you clean it in a water fountain..?" as my blood drips on the ground..) That was last Monday.... that is how my week started.

that dog better not have rabies.

Comfortable

2010-08-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we went to visit one of the Karen families in our area. We got there, and they let us in. They were just finishing up dinner, and they were watching the Karen/Burma war on tv.(...Its televised?)

They asked us if we liked noodles.. we had already eaten, but I wasnt going to pass up an opportunity to try crazy Karen food. I said yes. and they let us go to the table and mix our food. It was noodles with this soup you put on it, and then all sorts of toppings. chilli powder, fried garlic and onions... Fish juice... Thats what they called it.. The didnt know the word in English.. I passed on that.

But it was pretty good.

Afterwards. we went and sat on there couch. Their sliding door was open that lead to their second story apartment balcony. We watch and it started to get windy.. and then rainy. and then it poured! it was so fun. just to watch it with them..

Then we read with them about joseph smith. It was short.. they dont speak much english, so we usually keep it short.

There was just a good feeling in the room. I love that family. So generous. Such a good end to the week.

I Met 3 drunk guys in one day

2010-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

We were walking down 20th st. One that we have been told to be careful of... And I found out why! We were stoping by a lady that used to meet with the missionaries, and this Drunk (and I mean DRUNK!) guy comes up to us. he's like "hey! whats in your bible?" I just looked at him.. and said "What?" and he repeated "What's in your bible?"

We could obviously tell he was plastered, so we didnt really pay much attention to him, seeing as we had already knocked on the door of the lady's house. But he just keeps yelling "Talk to me! Turn around!" and I told him that we would be there is a second, but we had to talk to this lady first, who had answered the door. But he keeps yelling! "Whats in your bible? 13:3!" And I turn around, and i'm just frustrated. "13:3 what!?" and he replied "13:3!" to which i said "13:3 what!? What book!?" ... "Your BIBLE!" he says... AHHHH!!

My comp, through it all, finds out that the lady we were looking for has moved. And she was obviously not wanting to stay at the door, with this drunk guy on her sidewalk. So she left.

So we go talk to him. "What do you want to know! what book!?" He says "your bible" a few more times, but finaly, he says "Hebrews."

I was holding a Book of Mormon.

"This doesn't have Hebrews in it." i told him. but he tells me to give it to him. So I do. He looks through it for a bit, and starts reading the names.... and doesn't recognize any of them. I tried to tell him it was a different book. but he just stops somewhere in alma and says "here it is!" and starts reading something about the Judges....

All I said was "wow.. you found Hebrews! I didnt know it was in there."

He seemed pretty pleased with himself, and we talked for a while. He told us he was an angel with a broken wing.. about 4 times.. At first he introduced himself as Sid... then he said Jeff when he looked at me.. It was kinda creepy..

My comp looked behind him and he started going off about never looking behind you! "theres nothing back there!" he kept saying.

I started to have a lot of fun with him. He was nice. He kept calling us "long hairs" (his hair was a shaggy mess) and when he found out we were from Utah he said "ya bunch of hippies!" I loved it! we were dressed in nice white shirts and ties, and he's a drunk on the corner calling us hippies. It was so funny.

Then we asked him if he had family in town and he said "yeah! Your my family!"

And i was just like "YEAH!" and i go to give him a high five.. but he gave us both hugs instead. haha!

Well, he was still holding our Book of Mormon, and he asked, "Is Revelations in here man?"

My comp tells him no, but he keeps looking in the back and gets to the index and sees the word prophet. "here it is man, here it is" and i got all excited for him "You Found it! no way! i didnt know it was in there!"

he just kept talking to himself "yeah man, Prophets. Here it is..."

Well his drunk buddy came up and told us not to talk to him. Then they hugged and his buddy complimented my tie.. but we figured it was time to get out of there.

The guy, sid or jeff.. held the Book of Mormon to is chest and said "Keep it in here, man." and handed it back..

as we were leaving i said, "see ya, sid.. or jeff or whatever" and he said "it's Sid!"...

what a great day.

The Pigeon Problem

2010-08-03T14:40:00.002-07:00

We have a "pigeon problem" at our new apartment. They LOVE to hang out and poop ALL over our deck... And there are two baby pigeons in a nest in the corner.. and two more on the way... man.... i want to crush them sometimes.. (the Eggs.. not the baby's..) but I think I would rather watch them hatch. We may build an incubator.

*UPDATE*

The Assistants to the president came over and threw the pigeon eggs off the balcony. so I guess that solves that problem.

The Ivy League

2010-08-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

We had a dinner appointment last night at the Slocombe's (stake president)... it was good. the people were so... smart.. and well mannered.. talking about the "Manifesto" and when the Russians had their war... I felt so out of place. Nothing like Sunday dinner at home, talking about sponge bob and laughing our heads off when Adam says something ridiculous/offensive (but funny)!

It was fun to pretend to be smart. When they said some fact i would just nod and agree "Oh yes, yes. Quite right". "yes, i believe that was the name of Picasso's first painting."

Haha

It made me appreciate who i was though. I like me, and i like my family and friends. We are so fun.

Just Like the Prophets of Old

2010-07-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the Book of Mormon SO much lately. I now know what it feels like to HUNGER after the scriptures. No joke! I Crave it! I want to finish soon.. I haven't finish since my mission started yet. I'm in 3Nephi. SO CLOSE!

A man yelled at my when I was reading at the bus stop. He said "WHY DO YOU READ THAT BOOK!" I said "Because its scripture"... we got into a "discussion"... the first time Ive ever REALLY been mad at someone on my mission. And I had just been reading about Nephi and Helaman. They were so bold when they taught people! So I was so excited to boldly tell this man what I believed... I ever so tactfully said "I'm gonna read the book I believe in, so let me read!" and I stormed off onto our bus that had just pulled up.

It wasn't too much of a scene. No one really pays to much attention to the crazy people. Us included.

But I did feel bad.. But only a little bit. A part of me felt like Helaman would have been proud... But he would have done it a lot better.

My testimoney, you can say.

2010-07-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

We met this guy who was really nice, but he wanted us to prove to him that the Book of Mormon was true. He said he had done his research, and found some sketchy things. But if we could show him it was true, he would join the church. I just told him that if it were possible to PROVE, everyone would join. But we have to walk by faith.

It is hard, when there is SO much opposition out there. People are constantly trying to PROVE that the church is false. But THAT is not possible either! for almost 200 years, the book of Mormon has stood up against ALL the opposition! If it really isn't true, shouldn't they have been able to PROVE it by now? How could one man create such an AMAZING lie? That it could stand up under so much scrutiny? And have so many GOOD, HONEST people support it, even under all the persecution! Are we all liars?

No.

The Spirit is the common factor. Those who know it is true have felt the spirit. Quietly and Gently it has touched their lives. And as they continue to learn and read, it becomes louder, and Stronger. And then.... you know. Its true. And now you know. It has been Proved... to YOU. That knowledge cant be shared... only borne in testimony.

I have met people that have felt the spirit.. but when they saw the opposition it would bring into their lives.. they pushed it away. They quieted the still small voice. they let themselves forget...

Don't ever do that. Don't ever forget. You cant imagine how bad it hurts those who know you knew..

I'M BUSING AGAIN! AHHHH!!!

2010-07-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Here in Saskatoon, all the downtown streets are Lettered. Ave A, Ave B, Ave C... all the way to Ave Z. We have the south end of those streets. They call it.. The South Alphabets. In our area we have from Ave H South to Ave Z South, and then quite a bit more. And boy... It is FULL of crazy people! I have been here 3 days.. and I have met so many crazy people. This lady on the bus who was handing out religious flyer's and a homeless ex-catholic. Then there's the Jehovah's Whitness/hooker who asked to use our phone.. And I cant forget the Angel! I met an Angel. He said he has had wings all his life, but they are stuck inside his body. He has felt them in there all his life.. He said he is here to kill evil people and protect the good... I asked him if I could see his wings.. he turned around and showed me his back... and then said "I will get them back when I die" or something like that. MAN! Pendygrasse is great.

We talked to this lady for like 30 min in front of her house. She was telling us we needed to take communion everyday or we would go to hell and she told us that we needed to pray to the saints and do the rosary. Its in Ephesians 6 she says. Apparently we cant teach her anything because the holy ghost has become her teacher. She went on to say that everyone is supposed go and teach the word.....we had a good conversation.

"You teach from.."

"My own conversion?"

"..no, You teach from -"

"The Scriptures.."

"You teach from Man.. yes, the scriptures. I teach from the spirit. that's the difference between you and me. And you know? those Mormons who are marrying all those young girls.. that just not good, that's lust."

"I agree, Those Mormons are not a part of our church.. They split off years ago."

"I know, But let me tell you, I'm don't mean to offend you, but they are pedophiles"

"Yeah, maybe"

"That is why I could never join the Mormon church.."

"Again -"

"(cuts me off and rambles on about it, and wont let me speak)"

"(me speaking anyway) Again, Not part of our church"

"Yeah.. I know... but their must be some connection....(quietly mumbles something to herself)"

"Well.. it was great to meet, but we really have to go."

"OK, You know... (rambles on again... and we just walk away.. as she keeps rambling..)"

They seem so normal at first... You cant always tell at first glance.. A mother with a stroller. A bystander at the bus stop.. Who lets these people just walk around? shouldn't they wear signs or something?

Ive gotten pretty casual with the crazies.. after being around them for so long. I pretty much will say whatever comes to my mind. I told that lady that the Holy Ghost sent me to find her and teach her... She said something about the Holy Ghost guiding our lives and that he is her teacher now..

So.. Back to the Ghetto, Back to busing.. White washing. Its all good.

well well well

2010-06-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

I laughed so hard today I ruined the hymn in district meeting.

I keep checking to see if my fly is down. It never is.

Brother Jude ran over my foot with his Vespa.

I lost at Chinese checkers.

The girl at Burger king has 2 lazy eyes...

Elder Banks makes me laugh.

The mosquitoes are killing me.

The Beaulieus are getting baptized in September.

Hope I'm here for that.

Maybe we'll switch it to August

I got to get back to Portage

2010-06-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm allergic to summers in canada. I have been breaking out in hives... Also, there are so many mosquitoes and that is annoying.

Also

Me and Elder Banks went running. We ran 3 miles! We both agreed that if we had known it was 3 miles when we started, we never would have made it. But now its easy as cake. We will do it every morning.

My calves hurt.

Something great happened

2010-06-22T13:25:00.001-07:00

A miracle! We had a goal this week to get 30 people to church. Not investigators only, but 30 living things to Church. We were inviting a lot of less actives and counting on some investigators (the Beaulieus) but a lot of members were telling us that they weren't going to come this week for some reasons... So we were pretty scared.. So Saturday night i prayed that someone would come to church that we weren't expecting.

Well, tomorrow came.. and less people came than we had expected. Tons of actives and less actives weren't there. And the Beaulieus weren't there! so.. church was about to start. There were like 10 people there. So we ran to the Beaulieus to see if they were coming. Arleen was sick! So that meant amber had to watch the baby and she didn't want the kids to come by themselves... ahh! so we head back.. and right in front of the church is a big van!

We were wondering who it could be.. We had just been out to the reserve and suggested that a bunch of people get a school bus and come to church.. so we were thinking they took our advice.. well we got inside, and a whole family had come from Idaho! They were visiting a less active family member up here. And she came too! Not to mention 3 return missionaries installing alarm systems! 37 people where there! AHHH! It was soo good!

Anyways! Everything was great! And it just so happened that this was the week President decided to visit the branch! So that was just chocolate frosting on the chocolate cake!

I'm about to get side tracked

2010-06-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

President told Elder Gines something about me that has really started to irritate me... He said that i was someone that would do what my senior comp did... so he had to be a good example to me...

WHAT!?

I spent all my life trying to distinguish my self as an individual... and now im a lackey! Man...

And the worst part is... I started to see it! I started to see that president can call me better than i know myself! maybe its just one of those psychological things like when Elaine breaks up with the Bad-breaker-upper and he tells her she has a big head.. and then she cant stop thinking about it so she starts to notice things that make her head SEEM big. Like the bird that flies into it, or that taxi driver that couldn't see out his back window.

Maybe I'm just looking at ways i do what my companions do.. But i don't want to be sway-able! I want to be me all the time.. But what is me!? now I'm frustrated. This is lame. I want to rebel against everything my comps say now just to prove him wrong..

I just hope this doesn't end the same way Elaine's story ends...

Well, I know one thing...

2010-05-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Banana Gag is STILL going! Sister horning sent me a wallet sized picture of a banana.. So we sent her a plantain. She stuck a stinky banana in Elder Ortons luggage, so he sent her a package of rotten, month old bananas... Me and Elder Gines are working on a candy theme. We have a box of runts.. with only bananas in it.. and some other stuff.

We also want to bake some banana bread with a whole banana in the middle.... peal and all.

Should be good.

We Named Him Pikachu

2010-05-04T14:47:00.001-07:00

We found a mouse on the side of the road the other day and he was sorta alive, but didnt move much. It was super cold. So I put him in a plastic bag and I stuck him in my coat. We werent going in yet... so i contacted some people with a mouse in my pocket. and they didnt have a clue. It was perfect.

This Letter Will Be a Figurative Slap

2010-05-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Some times you have to give up everything for the pearl of great price. Matthew 13:45,46 or something...

August 5th

2010-05-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Easter monday.. apparently a holiday in Canada where they close down all the stores.... Canada is so lazy.. It also happened to be my 8 month mark of when I came to Canada. Great, im 8 eh?

There is this crazy kid next to me

2010-05-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

There is this crazy kid next to me that is playing a video game and banging on his little keyboard.. He is really getting into it. I have been staring right at him for 3 minutes and he hasnt even noticed...

Who brings their kid to the library to play VIDEO GAMES! i mean, i love video games, but that just makes a mockery of everything i library stands for...

Elder Bot

2010-05-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

Elder Palica was poopie the whole first part of the week. I was just mad at him for like 2 days, and if he HAD emotion he would have been mad at me too. Just for those 2 days he completely changed! He just did a whole 180! SO stupid. He wouldnt joke around with me and was basically telling me that he was the epitome of obedience, which was like saying that I disobedient. I was just ticked at him. He was so arrogant.

Then i found out that he was keeping tally marks in his planner of how many times he had a violent thought towards me... one day it was like 7! holly freak! this kid is nuts! i thought i was gonna die.. it was really creepy.

He is like one of those unstable kids that you dont want to mess with because you dont even know what will make them snap... It really got me to think about the whole 'robots getting a mind of their own and become violent' cliche... Man! I was kinda freaked out! i sleep in the same room as this kid!

But all is well because i think he shut down and unplugged for a while. His RAM is back to normal, so hopefully no malfunction or crashes for a while. Where's his operators manual?

So We Met a Man With One Leg

2010-05-04T14:32:00.002-07:00

Elder Palica and I are getting along ok. He is a strange bird.. He never ceases to amaze/bug me. I just cant figure him out. its frustrating. He is very complex. A human compilation of 1000 different quirks, and at least half of them are irritating to me. But he is so quiet and hidden i can hardly tell. I pretty sure he went to Milfrod Academy.

I Can Handle Henderson

2010-05-04T14:32:00.001-07:00

So, me and Elder palica were tracting one night, and it was after 8:00 (when we are suposed to stop) so we were heading back to the car... and this whole week me and elder palica have been joking about baptizing the next ward pianist. because only 2 people play in this ward and i am pretty sure they learned only a little while ago, just so they COULD have someone play at church. So, not the greatest.. but im happy they are trying... anyway. We were walking back and we saw this guy playing the piano in his window.. For some reason i freaked out and was like We HAVE to talk to him! and elder palica didnt want to because it was late, but we did anyway. So we went it... and he invited us right it. he then told us that "eveyone else" was already down stairs"... we were really confused.. and then he saw our name tags and realized who we were!. He thought we were friends of his daughters coming to her HOT TUB PARTY... i wish...

so then we got to talking with him and his wife and it went really well! we are going back this saturday.

I hope they get baptized. then when people ask "how did you meet the missionaries" they can tell them "They came to our daughters hot tub party!"

Summer is Only 3 Months Here

2010-05-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

It is getting a bit warmer here.. but whenever i suggest spring is coming, the canadians all laugh at me. AHHH! what is wrong with this freaking country!

She Belives in Vampires

2010-05-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Man, as crazy and this ward is, i still love them. i feel connected to them because i know that they found the truth. I want to help people like that. So far.. not going so good. As far as i know Alice is still going to that stupid church... and Henderson has been a total failure.. nothing is coming from the work here. It is sad. people refuse to listen, but its still true.

Me and elder palica have been talking about what it might be like in heaven when we see these people again. We tried to tell you!

Sad thought, but maybe we are here to stand as witnesses that these people got their fare chance.

Its a dirty job, but somebodies got to do it.

Poor Kid. He Tries Too Hard.

2010-05-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

We found this guys blackberry on the ground this week. When we gave it back to him we commited him to come to church (instead of giving us 20 dollars like he wanted). But he didnt come.

Also, aparently, some crazy lady is tracting in our area and giving out pass along cards and pamphlets, because we talked to 2 people the other day that said someone from our church was JUST there. But no one would tract our area... One lady discribed her as a "lady (without a name tag) by herself"..

We have named her the "Lone Tracter" or "Phantom Tracter"

Happy Louie Riel Day!

2010-02-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

I didnt write yesterday because it was a holiday... a holiday celebrating the first traitor of Canada... Louie Real day... Its like having a Benedict Arnold day... NO JOKE! And its bigger Thanksgiving! Everything was shutdown! So lame. What is up with Canada!?

A Note to You

2010-02-16T15:03:00.001-08:00

Hello blog readers. Some of you are friends, some enemies. some of you are avid fans, others, deranged stalkers. But no matter who you are, I know you are all feeling the pain from my lack of blogging lately. So let me just say "Sorry for my lack of blogging lately". It's not because Ihaven't had anything to blog about. but its because I spend all my computer time writing people! Crazy stuff HAS happened!. and it continues to happen.

A few weeks ago I sliced a less-active members hand open with a sword. That was crazy!

Then last week, I got a call from a drunk, less-active, native woman who I have NEVER met... She told me she was going into surgery and that she was going to die and that she would miss me. She also told me that she loved me and thought about me, and the church, everyday... Again... Never met her.

So some good stuff. But just no time to write about it! I think I'll just tell the best stuff to my family and let them blog parts of me emails from now on. That seems easier.

I just want you to know, I love YOU all. And I do think of all of you everyday. individually. Even those of you I have never met, or cant remember... Like a drunk native...

Peace

Elder Liechty

You've Only Got One?

2010-01-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of reasons Canada is different than the U.S.A. but I think one of the most significant is that sometimes we have 3 suns... and you've only got one...  I woke up the other day... noticed that there were two suns in the sky! I asked Elder Chubak about it and he told me to check the other side of the sun... and there was a 3rd one!  Thats right. 3 suns. Also known as "Sun Dogs". I dont know why we have 3. We just do.. and no offense, but it is much cooler than one.  What's that? Pics or it didn't happen?

So there's your proof... But I still don't understand.. If we have 3, why is it so much feaking colder up here!

Did I Mention I'm Busing?

2009-12-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

That's right. They took away my car. But I don't care! The Transit system is the most interesting thing. We will jump on a bus one minute (and I have no clue where we are going, this being my new area and all) and the next thing I know, we are at the right place at the right time.

But its not without its cons. We will often get stuck waiting for a bus for 15 minutes. And its freaking cold outside! Every time that happens, I want to chop off my toes!

Then one time, we jumped on the wrong bus... 1hr and 20 min later we got off that wrong bus and walked the rest of the way to our dinner appointment.

Then there is that second door.. Not the front one you get on, But the one in the back. My new Comp., Elder Chubak, told me that a lot of people have trouble with them because the button you are supposed to press is heat sensored, and they don't know that. Plus they close so in like 2 seconds and the bus driver dosen't check to see if everyone is off because he has stops to get to on time.

So... one time, Elder Chubak, and I was right behind him, but a little too slow, and the door shut. So I took off my glove, thinking I was so smart, and pressed the button.

Well, it didn't work and the bus drove off with me in it... No worries tho. I just got off at the next stop and he had to run to catch me.

I wondered what happened, and he told me that SOME of them were ones you had to press hard, and not heat sensors... You think he would have mentioned that sooner.

Don't Expect any Pictures

2009-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

My camera sucks. It records sound... but won't play it back. I has a little black dot in the lens that is always there and shows up in all my pictures... And if that wasn't bad enough... the other day... it made me want to commit suicide.

I was looking through the manual, trying to figure out how to get the sound to play back, and found out how to use the menu a little better... So I was looking around and saw a little button that said Format.

Then I started to think... "Hey, I have some pictures from other peoples camera that wont show up on my screen... Possibly because they are in the wrong Format.. maybe this will fix that"

Famous last words.

My ENTIRE memory card is wiped clean... That is what FORMAT does. It DOSEN'T format the pictures.. IT ERASES THEM!

AHHHHHH!!!!! 5 months of my mission.. GONE, in a puff of smoke... So don't expect any photos soon... Or ever. I feel like giving up on taking pictures.. My anger is coming back as a write this.

Besides my journal, my pictures were the pride and joy of my mission so far! I have gone through them countless times, choosing which ones deserved to stay, and smiling and laughing at the memories... which are now gone...

[I am having Jeffery send my his card, so that I can recover as many pictures as possible.  For anyone who doesn't know, formatting and deleting don't actually remove the pictures from the card, they just remove them from the directory.]

With Thankful Hearts

2009-12-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was hard. With Elder Orton sick, I had nothing to do all week but think of you. Think of family and friends and everyone getting together.. and how I don't get to be a part of it.  But as we sat around Brother Zaharchuck's (our Ward Mission leader) table, he asked us "What is it your Thankful for?"

My comments were full of my family and the gospel. but as we went around, the missionaries who had been out longer than me spoke of the blessing it was to be here with them, to be in Brandon. And that got me thinking... I looked over at the missionaries, who were on one side of the table. They had all left family behind, they had all made the same sacrifice. Then I looked over at the other end of the table. At the Zaharchucks and the Craigs. They had given us so much. They had given the Lord so much. And they loved us enough, to invite us over to celebrate American Thanksgiving.. Huge feast and all!

I felt blessed. And I didn't miss home anymore. While I'm away, where ever I go, the ward will be my family. And I love them.

VICTORY

2009-12-07T10:35:00.001-08:00

(Picture coming soon)

I killed the Part.

Bizzy, the First Nation Sensation

2009-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

This week me and Elder Orton beat boxed with a drunk native.

(Video coming soon)

ELDER ORTON!

2009-11-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

Transfer calls come at random... I was told they used to come at night on Tuesdays.. but not anymore. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME!

And it just so happens they came, completely unexpected, on Monday night. If President asks you to put it on speaker phone, you know you are staying where you're at.. if not..say goodbye to your comp.

He didnt ask for speaker phone this time..

Elder Tieken is now a Zone Leader. Good for him. It was surprisingly sad to be split up.

But I like my new comp a LOT.

I'm serving with ELDER ORTON! Who would have thought I'd serve with an Orton. And what do you know? He's just like an Orton! Well.. really similar, in the way that he is CRAZY!

He is THE most popular missionary in the mission. He is know as being one of the most FUN companions ever. And he's a GOOD missionary! (sounds like an ORTON)

He always gets along so good with the members and when he leaves, they always ask about him.

He knows every missionary and he know all the crazy stories about them. And now I do too. A few years ago, one of the sister missionaries tried to cast out a evil spirit from a drunk native by using the priesthood.. what?!

I've never "Liked" one of my companions before. Ive always "Tolerated" them. Who knew it would make such a difference! Im loving my mission right now! Me and Elder Orton are working hard AND having so much fun! I didnt know you could do both!

I'm lovin the Mish.

Old Fart

2009-10-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

I meet a lot of interesting people every day. So I have had a lot of interesting experiences. Some are crazy, others are scary, and some are just funny.  The other day we contacted this old man on the street. He either called us "Bible bumpers" or "Bible humpers". Both of which indicate that he is not interested.   So we start to ask him if he know anyone in the area that could use any help or service. He goes on to tell us about one of his friends who is too indipendent to accept help. As he does so, he starts to fart every step he takes..   Two things factor in:  He is old and can't hear, so he probably thinks they are silent.  And, he is old and can't control his bowels.  But he just continues to talk like nothing is happening, and I am trying SO hard not to  bust up laughing.  Elder Tieken turns to me and starts to smile and I have to turn around at this point because I cant hide it anymore and tears are coming to my eyes.  When he finally leaves, we both took a moment to relieve our laughter, and get back to contacting.  All in a days work as a Missionary in the Canada Winipeg mission.

Watch This Guy!

2009-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

I hate driving in Canada! All these Canadians are too 'brave'! The pedestrans dont follow the same rule we do in America, where, if something is Bigger, Stronger, and Faster than you, you GET OUT THE WAY STUPID! I guess they've never heard that one.

It doesnt help that Elder Tieken uses vague, unidentifiable phrases like, "Watch this guy."

I was driving down the road about 60ks an hour, and it was pitch black and all I could see were the bright headlights of the cars going the opposit way. Then all of the sudden, Elder Tieken sits up straight in his seat and says "Watch this guy". The way he said it, I thought he meant that the car in front of us was about to do something interesting.. So I watched.

Then he said it louder "Watch this guy!" But I WAS watching, and nothing was happening.

"Watch him, watch him!"

"What!?" I finally yell. He wasnt doing anything!

"STOP!"

That one I understood. I slammed on the breaks a stopped right as this fat Canadian walked in front of my car, not even flinching or missing a step. I almost killed him! All because Elder Tieken told me to "Watch this guy"...

Turns out they always walk in front of cars... They just assume the driver will stop...

Idiots.

Canadian 101

2009-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Although it is wildly thought that "Canadian" and "English" are the same language, there are some differences in the most basic forms of communication. Here is a guide that will help you understand any foreigners you may come across.

~Words and Definitions~

Supper - NOUN: A meal that is eaten at the end of the day. takes place after dinner.

Dinner - NOUN: The meal between breakfast and supper.

Lunch - ...?

Washroom - NOUN: A place to relieve one's waist, similar to the American "Bathroom".

Phone - VERB: The act of communicating with someone on a telephonic device. "I'll phone you later." Tenses; Phone, Phoning, Phoned.

Call - VERB: The act of visiting or re-visiting someones home. "You can call back next week." Tenses; Call, Calling, Called.

Yous - PRONOUN: The plural form of the word 'You'. "Where are yous headed this evening?"

Eh? - ???: A meaningless statement added to the end of a sentence to either indicate that you are asking a question or that you are waiting for input. A slang form of the word, "Hey?", is comonly used with the younger generation to show their defiance and deviance from their parents. Unfortunately the difference in pronunciation is negligable.

~Grammer~

Vowels are: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes G, Like in Flag, Bag, Tag, and Rag. The G will make the normaly, soft 'a' a hard 'A'.

Foreign words (especially Spanish) are ALWAYS pronounce phonetically. Exp. 'Jealopeno' = 'Ja-la-pen-no', 'Pasta' = 'P-Ah-sta'

As a rule of thumb, the letter 'O' is always pronounce different than the american 'O' in a fetal attempt to further distance themselves from their (American) culture.

Follow this guide, and the next time you meet a Canadian, you should be able to communicate well enough to send them back to Canada.

I Swallowed a Fly

2009-10-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

There once was a missionary who swallowed a fly.

I don't know why he swallowed a fly... I guess he'll die.

MTC Banana

2009-10-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

When Sister Horning found out you could take fruit out of the MTC cafeteria... she went insane. There was always a banana hidden around the class room. On the chalk board, in the drinking fountain, in my bag... She even put a stamp on one and tried to mail it to me.

And she even tried to bring one to Canada.

He traveled with us from Provo, to Salt Lake, to Minneapolis. But the poor little guy didn't make it through customs.

But when I got to Canada, guess what I found in the back of the car I was assigned? I don't know how he did it, but MTC Banana made it to Canada. Good for him. He finally made it to the field. And he is one of the best missionaries I know.

The Rock Pit

2009-09-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

We went out to Souris this P-day. They told us we were going to the rock pit! Apparently it is this amazing place where there are all these rare rocks that you get to find and take home!  Not to mention, that because of the rain, there were tons of pits of quicksand out there. They told us we would try to find some.  I was so excited.   And then we got there... and the place fit the name... It was a pit... with rocks in it.  It really was a junk yard. There were broken down cars littering one half of it, and giant piles of rocks filled the other...   For about an hour we dug through piles of rocks.   What am I even going to do with the rocks I found? keep them my whole mission? They aren't even rare!   We were told we could keep 25 pounds of rocks. Who would keep that much junk! Canada is so lame. They dig in the dirt for fun.  What a great P-Day.  The rock pit...

Halava

2009-09-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

One word... HALAVA... look it up

Imigrant

2009-08-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

We saw a Hispanic man walking on the other side of the street and Elder Tieken said we should talk to him. So we walk over there with our ties and name tags, and when he sees us he ducks his head and starts walking fast...  Then Elder Tieken calls out "Excuse me" or something like that... and the guy bolts.  He runs down the street to the nearest door, jumps inside, and slams it shut...  At first we were really confused... then we figure it out.  He thought we were from Immigration.

Now Thats More Like It

2009-08-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

6:00 on Saturdays we play volley ball with the investigators. But we could only stay for a bit because we had an appointment at 7:30.

7:00 rolls around... and 6 Chinese people come up to us and ask if they can join... and one of them speaks fluent English and Chinese...

You need to understand the value of that Chinese young man. We have 3 Chinese investigators right now, all of which are showing potential... none of which speak very good English. We can only communicate on a basic level.

If we got that young man to investigate the Church... it could lead to big things.

I looked to Elder Tieken. We still had to change and go pick up the member that was going to join us.

"...5 more minutes"

5 minutes pass... and we really have to go. We leave it up to the other Elders to handle.. and run for the car.

We were sprinting and jumping over fences and driving like mad! When we got into the apartment, we still had muddy sand on our feet. we jumped in the tub and took turns washing our feet and got dressed in 2 min. flat.

I was so tired when we finally got ready and jumped back into the car... but the whole time I had a smile on my face.

This is how I had imagined missionary work.

Now I'm a Missionary.

The Soup Kitchen

2009-08-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Every week we go and volunteer at a soup kitchen for service. Most of the people that work there look like they should be eating there... and a lot of the people that eat there look like they shouldn't... but whatever. It's not my place to judge.

We get there early so we can eat before we work. The food is usually pretty bad. I have to portion it out so I don't eat all the bearable stuff and get left with a pile of uneatable stuff...

Afterwards we help clean up. I cleaned my station and then went to go and put some left over lettuce in the freezer. When i walked in, the door closed behind me... and I couldn't open it again.

I was trapped!

I started thinking about all the stories I had heard of people dieing in locked freezers, and started to panic. I tried pulling the knob and pushing the knob and kicking the knob.. but nothing was working.

I saw there was a panic button so I started to push it.. and waited. and waited... but no one was coming!

This was the end. I knew I wouldn't last much longer. So I decided to try the nob one more time...

Turns out it twists the other way...

No worries... it's all good.

Winnipeg

2009-08-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Since I have been in Canada, I have...

Been assigned a Trainer (Elder Tieken)

Been assigned to an Area (Brandon West)

Been assigned to be DESIGNATED DRIVER!

Drove too fast (Got scolded by a sister missionary)

Stopped at a Green light (Got yelled at by a Winnipeger)

Drove too slow (Got weird looks from a Winnipeger)

Ran a red light (Got laughed at by my Comp.)

Drove 2 hours!

Saw a man get Tased

Saw one of my Investigators get Maced

Worked at a soup Kitchen

Assisted Elder T in breaking into an apartment.

And bought a Kinder Egg.

I love Canada

Well I made it!

2009-08-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

I walked out of the imigration office on to the main floor... and it was a different world! the noises the people the colors. It was really strange. We packed into the car with the Mission Prez and drove off to the mission home for dinner. The neighborhood is so nice. It actaully feels kinda like home.
SO the city is crazy... but the suburbs are nice.

Thats all I can say for now. P-days are on mondays. Just so you know.

If you need to send me something it HAS to go to this adress.

Canada Winnipeg Mission
Elder Jeffery Liechty
845 Shaftesbury Boulevard
Winnipeg, MB R3P OM5

The Mission name HAS to come before my name. OR ELSE!

Email:  Jeffery.Liechty@mldsmail.net

Love you

Sleepy Grandma

2009-07-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

We were in the TRC, Elder C and I, and we were teaching this cute old lady about the plan of salvation. She started out really interested in the message and loved when I shared a story about my baptism, but it was really warm in that room... and she was very old.  Soon her eyes started to droop and her head was slipping forward. I had to do something! "Janet (that was her name) We would like to invite you to be baptised into the curch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the proper athourity of the preisthood." Its all I could think of to say... And it worked. It got her talking and we set her date for 2 weeks later. Then we wanted to end with a prayer. I knew she wouldn't make it. Halfway through I sneaked a peek to see if she was asleep again. the prayer ended and as loud as I reverently could I said "AMEN!" That did the trick. Just another day in the MTC.  Now if only she was a REAL investigator.

The District

2009-07-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

My district is awesome.   Sister Marble, Sister Horning, Sister Brodrick, Sister Drake. Those are the Sisters.  Elder Bertram, Elder Felix, Elder Gandolf, Elder Presgrove, and Elder "C"... You know him. Those are the Elders.  Sister Marble and Horning are converts, and I think Sister Brodrick too. They are all awesome and their testimonies are stronger than mine. But I do alright. Sister Horning kills me. She reminds me of Mckay. I love cool sister missionaries.  The Elders are cool too, with one exception... But thats ok.  We are all really good friends and goof all the time. But never Goof-off. We are hard workers and we will convert the world! LOOK OUT CANADA! (And Provo. Elder Bertram, Gandolf, and Presgrove are going to Provo... or are already here... I guess.)  We are the greatest District in this Dispensation!!!  P.S. Elder Gandolf's Grandfather started Gandolfos!!! Awesome huh?

Jeffery's Email:  Jeffery.Liechty@myldsmail.net

Elder Liechty

MTC Mailbox #225

Can - Win 0805

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Elder "C" has Mono

2009-07-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in my room, and I am supposed to be out at the gym playing volleyball with the rest of the FUN Elders and Sisters in my district.  But I have to be with my comp... and my comp has MONO!  That's right.  The Kissing disease.  He is a freaking nerd!  Who would kiss him?

Guy's, Elder C is killing me.  Every day he does something I have to write down.  I am filling my notebook!

Elder C reminds me of Bryan B.  He spouts off useless info.  But unlike B.B., it's uninteresting and annoying!  And he keeps telling everyone how he went to the doctor for hay fever!  It is the lamest story!

Well, he's been sick forever now.  So today we went to the Health Clinic and they sent us to the Health Center.  We had to walk all the way to it, accross the street from the MTC.  We got there and the doctor tried to do a strep test on him... but he couldn't.  Elder poopie pants would pull away and start to cry every time.  The doctor tried 8 times before he gave up, so they took his blood instead.  They gave  him a mask (in case he caught the swine) until they could get his results back.

Mono.

Then we left with his meds and went to dinner (BTW, I missed class for this.  I have to study lesson 1 on my own).

He never took his mask off, even though he could.  He likes it when people ask about it.  I don't care.  In fact, I encourage it.  I don't want to have to smell his breath anyway (it still gets through).

The only problem?  With the mask on he breaths really loudly!  And makes little whining noises!  Some one take him away!

Excerpts From The Notebook:

"Elder C tells his 'Hay Fever' story to everyone (I think he has it memorized word for word)."

"Elder C hasn't showered since we got here."

"Elder C exercises in his church shoes."

"Elder C speaks to his body parts, example:  My stomach is like 'Now Way'."

"Elder C called hiimself (and I quote) 'an artsy-craty kind of dude'."

"Elder C always leans over to see what I'm doing when I lean over to get something from under my chair."

"Elder C has 3 saxophones.  He claims they are worth 24,000 dollars."

"Edler C thinks no one in our room snores.  He's wrong.  He does."

"Elder C always walks about 2 feet behind me."

"Elder C has awesome hand writing, but he smells like bad breath (not his breath, his whole body)."

"Ender C has mono!"

Footnote from the editor (Dad):

I think elder "C" is a blessing to Jeffery, and I am grateful for him.  I know Jeffery will learn compassion and unconditional love eventually.  Heaven knows I've had to learn it raising him!  Can't wait to hear his comments 2 years from now when he has been sufficiently humbled.

:-)

I Made It!

2009-07-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

I went to lunch alone. I was looking around for people I knew. I saw "look alikes," but no "real deals." I felt like I was in a new school with no friends. I got a sandwich with fries and an apple and water, but I was so frazzled and "trying too hard not to look lost" that I didn't get ketchup. I ate dry fries. They were gross. I wasn't hungry anyway.

Now It's My Turn

2009-07-15T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Cart

2009-07-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Parker found this Shopping Cart by a dumpster and brought it over to the Orton's one day.

...RaVoe didn't want it ...My mom didn't want it.

And It started a War.

We passed it back and fourth from my house to the Orton's for a while, but we wanted to make sure it stayed there.

The Rocks didn't work, and the next day Parker found it in his bed room, in draper, in his apartment, 3 stories up (and his apartment doesn't have an elevator).

So we tied it to their tree, and they tied it to Parker's truck. And when we tried to bring it back... we were ambushed.

Gun shots were fired from the roof and the cart was lost in their yard. But with some stealth and some quick movements, we retrieved it so we could try again another day...

But it was stolen.

I haven't seen it since.

We may never know what happened. And the war will never be finished.

Blogging by Proxy

2009-07-05T16:17:00.001-07:00

July 14th. That is my last true day with my computer. I will no longer be able to update my blog...

But have no fear! My dad will be posting things from my emails. So this blog will continue to update itself. So don't stop visiting.

I love you all, and will see you in 2 years.

Upward Over the Mountain

2009-07-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

We climbed a mountain.

We started off so innocent. "This will be fun!" we thought. "It doesn't look that bad".

We were wrong.

The different parts of that mountain can be divided into two groups. Steep, and less steep. The first part was steep. It was really steep. We got tired fast and Cory wanted to give up. But me and Kim wouldn't let him. We could still see these girls sitting on their tramp. We could not give up that easily. We kept going and eventually it got a little less steep. We continued past a barbed wire fence and up a ravine until we found a trail. I don't know where this trail starts, but it went farther up the mountain, and we were tired of being bushwhacked. So we followed it.

It led to a gorgeous look out area next to the rock formation Kim calls "The Gorilla". This is where Kim wanted to turn around. She was tired, and I later found out she had huge blisters. But now Cory wanted to keep going. And standing on the top of a mountain was on my list. So I wouldn't let myself stop.

We were hot and sticky and dirty and tired as heck. Our legs wanted to give out at this point. so we sat in the shade for a while. After a rest, we walked for a long time, and continued, even after the trail ended. We saw a para glider flying over our heads. They must have come from Timp. It was cool to see, and we all wished we were in their place. To fly instead of walk.

Then we stopped to rest in the shade... and Kim and Cory couldn't take it any more. For about the last 2 miles we kept telling ourselves that we were more than hallway, but the truth was that we were probably just barley half way, if even that. But I wouldn't give up. They said they would sit there and watch me. So I left my stuff (only taking a water bottle) and ran. I ran for a while. Even when the bushes turned to trees, I ran and dodged their branches. It was amazing.

Eventually the trees got to close together that I could no longer run, or even move much. So I fought through them and broke out into the beautiful gully. It wasn't filled with gross dry bushes and brush. It had lush trees and flowers and greenery. It was an amazing sight. It filled me with energy again, and a started to run up it. Then I heard them.

"Jeffery!"

I called back and they asked where I was. It would have been hard to explain, even if I wasn't yelling and trying to enunciate each word. Finally I threw a stick in the air so they could locate me. When they saw it, they told me to stay put. I heard them traipsing through the trees loudly, and then I saw them. They came up the gully to where I was. I figured they had decided they didn't want to miss out on this great experience. I was wrong. They sat there and tried to convince me to come down..

I told them I couldn't. I was so close, and it had been my dream for a long time. They said they couldn't leave without me. I said I couldn't leave.

So they came with me.

I am a pretty stubborn person. But usually just for myself. I said I would do it, so I have to do it. I didn't care if they came. It wasn't their dream. I realize that, and told them they could go. I had my cell phone with me. But they refused. They would be too worried about me. Good friends.

The Gully got fuller of bushes as we went up, and when we finally pushed our way out, we entered a little Vally surrounded by cliffs and trees. The only way up was through a steep hill will of trees. At least we had branches to hold on to as we climbed.

Well after this trek, we were on top of this hill... that led to the final hill. This was it. The last stint.

The only problem was.. The last hill was steeper than anything we had climbed yet and was riddled with bushes. And not the fun leafy bushes. these were thick and sharp. And Cory and Kim gave up. They deiced that they could watch me from their hill. I said fine, and ran off agian.

As I ran, the hill started to get steeper and steeper. My calves started to kill, and I have really strong calves. And the bushes were tearing me apart! I have blood running down my legs, and my arms were taking a beating too. Even my eyes weren't safe!

I think back now and wonder what the heck I was thinking. This was torture! And for what! That's how stubborn I am. I'm an idiot.

I am climbing and climbing and crawling through pushes because there is no trail, and it just keeps getting thicker. And I am listening to my music and a song comes on, and I remember the words that stuck out to me. "He took a step but then felt tired, he said 'I'll rest a little while'." (I did take a rest right then. It seemed appropriate.) "..But when he tried to walk again he wasn't a child." Then It get to this part where it says "This is all there is." and I turned around and It felt like I could see the whole world. It really is so beautiful up there. And it makes you realize how small you are. And how big the world is.

Soon I reached a wall of impassable bushes. There was literally no way around them from where I was. I would have had to double back... Then I get a text that tells "Come down!! My mom just called and said there were bears on the news up there."

As much as news anchor bears scared me, I still felt it didn't justify me coming down. But I did. It was getting late and I didn't want to have to climb down in the dark. I replied "I hate this... I'm so close"

I was defeated. The mountain beat me... and now it looked as if it might kill me.

How was I going to get down? I was crawling up on my hands and knees. I couldn't do that on a downward slant... So I decided I had to just plow through the bushes.

It couldn't have hurt worse if I had thrown myself down the hill. I was being cut everywhere my skin was showing and my legs were shaking uncontrollably. I began to flop myself on top of the bushes and let my weight carry me down to the next bush. It worked ok. but I would never get down the whole mountain that way.

Then I saw another little ravine to my left. I dug my way out of the bushes and plopped into the grassy area. It was such a relief. But I still have quite a way to go... so a ran straight down. I ran down a mountain! Which is dangerous because I cliff could have jumped in front of me and I would have died. Just like that. Dead.

I could hear Kim and Cory yell ahead of me. Then the next minute, I heard them yelling behind me.

I ran the fastest mile anyone have ever run.

Well, we found each other and we didn't even rest, even though I was struggling to stand. In my head I was thinking "Get me off this damn mountain!" (I would never say that out loud.. but some Orton is rubbing off on me)

The rest of the trip our legs were on "auto pilot" as Cory put it.

The climb up? About 5 hours with roughly 6-7 breaks. The hike down? 1 hour. 1 break.

We stopped so Kim could change her shoes and drain her blisters.

When we reached the bottom, we used the last of our energy to run to the golf course grass and fall right on our faces. Cory was kissing the ground. passionately.

We laid there for a while, and it was one of the best moments of our lives. We were still hot and sticky, but we no longer had to walk. And right then, a gift from God. The sprinklers burst on.

I was the first to see them. Without explaining myself to the other, I stripped down to my bare necessities, and ran through the freezing water.

The others followed closely after. No persuasion needed.

That was our hike. And we are proud of it.

Why wouldn't we be? We traveled through hell and survived.

He Knows Best

2009-06-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

I love my brother Adam. I'm closer to him than any of my other siblings and they would all agree. Which is strange, because a few years ago I was sure he hated me. I remember this frizzy haired boy that would lay with his head on the computer desk and listen to strange music, then occasionally wake up to punch me. And even through all that, I loved him most.

I remember one time when eating dinner, just the two of us, he pretended to choke, then promptly passed out. I though he died. And it was my fault for not calling 911. I was traumatized. I cried for a long time. Even after he scared me by coming back from the dead.

But things are different (for the most part) and for the last 3 years we have been good friends. And over those 3 years I have realized that his "strange music" is amazing. It's just amazing. Every band, every song, every lyric. I still learn that everyday. Some times I still doubt and I don't know why. Some times I think "Oh, I probably wont like them". WONG!

Recently I realized I am in love with Rocky Votolato. There have always been some songs I liked of his, but I never check his other stuff out. And now I feel like I have wasted so much of my life by not knowing his greatness. Too little, too late, I guess. I will never doubt again. He knows best.

The Carnival

2009-06-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Rides where flashy and too expensive

The food was all deep fried and unhealthy

And the people were trashy, stoned, or just strange.

It was great.

Some Days...

2009-06-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

Some days I feel like a day at the zoo. I wake up so excited! There are so many possibilities of how the day will turn out. It has so much potential.

Then I get to the lions cage... and they just sit there.

Then In the reptile house all the Snakes are hiding.

And the hippo is just sad.

And I just stand there and watch... willing the day to do something. And at the end of the day the lion still doesn't move the snakes are still hidden and the hippo is almost in tears.
And that's it. You go home defeated.

But it wasn't always like that! When you were a kid, the lions moved! even if it was just a flick of its tail. The snakes were playful! Just it sticking out its tongue was a sign of that! And the hippo... well he was always sad. But you were just happy it was there!

I wish my days could be like that again. Why don't we live them to the fullest like little kids? Its all in perception! And having a brighter perception of things is something I need to work on.

This post was to tell you two things, I am defiantly going to the zoo, and, spend less time on the computer and in your house alone! Everyday can be a day at the zoo, you just have to figure it out.

Now I'm going to the carnival.

P.S. Up beat songs have a way of brightening my day. Make a CD and just go for a drive with the windows down and see where you go. Have an adventure. That's a free tip. You don't even have to thank me for that.

Another One Bites the Dust

2009-06-17T00:53:00.000-07:00

I like to think that he was smiling under that mask.

Tacoma will be a better place now.

WCG

2009-06-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

Kings of the Gully.
Rulers of Highland.
Amazing Rap Group.
Best Friends.

We've got 32 songs on 2 albums.
Wherever we go, all eyes are on us.
And now were heading out to conquer the world.

From the West Coast of Washington to the Tundras of Canada.
From the Bell Towers of Notre Dame to the Ruins of The Inca City.

All will know our name.

We are the WCG.

My Love...

2009-06-06T11:26:00.001-07:00

...Someday we will be together.

Yesterday and Today

2009-06-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

Give or take a few days...

Yesterday we brought him home and today I love him even more

He's getting to big so fast.

Yesterday my dad fixed my iPhone and today I missed you so much

Old forgotten text messages. (as they appear on my phone)

Me: My mom says my tonsils are green!
Michael Tom: I'm coming

Michael Tom: Still sick?
Me: Yes. Its strep

Michael Tom: You made me sick:(
Me: You shouldn't have touched me!
Michael Tom: I had to! I thought you where dead. But its really not that bad.
Me: I had it bad.
Michael Tom: I could tell.
Me: 1st day its ok but you know your sick... day two... you die.
Me: I had a 104 fever
Michael Tom: Oh crap:(
Me: which, on day 3, turned to 97 degrees
Michael Tom: Well i haven't broke 100 but i just had the worst chill attack of my life.
Me: If you have any amoxicillin i would take some. and you'll want some ibuprofen.
Michael Tom: No, none of the weak stuff. We're going straight to morphine.
Me: And you may have some crazy fever dreams.
Michael Tom: Yes yes yes. I love them. Did you have um?
Me: yes, one during conference. it was weird. i don't ever really remember but i could hear all of the talks in my sleep and i think i made some of my own doctrine up.
Michael Tom: lol sweet. i hope you wrote it down.
Me: yes, i think i'll start my own religion
Michael Tom: Cool, can i join?
Me: Yes, it will be HDS, hyrule defenders society
Michael Tom: oh...nevermind.
Michael Tom: I want it to be called Coltymhs.
Me: Huh?
Michael Tom: Thoes are my conditions. take them or leave them.
Me: Coltyhms?
Michael Tom: Just go with it.
Me: Ok.

Me: Madison texted me today...
Michael Tom: what did she say?
Me: she said she missed me?
Michael Tom: whats with the "?"
Me: nothing
Michael Tom: what did you say
Me: i miss you
Michael Tom: and... was that it?
Me: she never answered back
Michael Tom: cool cool. So did you just have a huge hug-fest after that?
Me: never heard from her again.
Michael Tom: dang... she got married probably.
Me: yes
Michael Tom: Not even and invite:( we should both text her something filled with anger.
Me: Oooooo. filled.
Michael Tom: or oozing
Me: yes yes! i would also like teaming... or steaming!
Michael Tom: oh man, i'm so excited!

We just get the one life, you know. Just one. You can't live someone else's or think it's more important just because it's more dramatic. What happens matters. May be only to us, but it matters. -Gwen (Ghost Town)

Yesterday Cory left and today was so boring

Yesterday we talked about heart break and today I feel better

"And you will want so much for them to like you and they just wont. And it will break your heart. And that will make your heart bigger..." -Lois (Malcolm in the Middle)

Yesterday I saw UP and today I want to see it again

Good Days With You

2009-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Today we visited 'Dear Lizzie'. This is Me Kim's and Cory's hang out. I don't feel weird going in there anymore because the food is so good and no one looks at me funny because I'm sure they think I'm gay by now. We all had a good ol'time. It's full of good times and plenty of Dizzy Lizzies.

Yes, Today is truly a 3 post kind of day.

Get Excited

2009-05-26T13:41:00.001-07:00

June 23rd. "Far"

Were All Laughing With God

2009-05-26T12:35:00.001-07:00

"Laughing With". The first song off of Regina's new album.

It's Not About That

2009-05-25T11:16:00.001-07:00

Today I want to tell you about a philosophy I have come up with.

Some people ruin their lives. I can see it happening all around me. If I were to ask them why their life sucked, some would blame other people or their circumstances. Well, it's not about that. And the ones that are wise enough to realize it will say, Its because I made bad decisions.

BINGO

When I chose to get out of bed this morning, it was the right choice. That doesn't make it a good decision, just a 'right' one. Well, if I didn't get out of bed that would be wrong... but not necessarily bad. The good and the bad comes from our intent.

And that's what makes or breaks your life.

Right Wrong, Good Bad.

But remember, its easier to tell someone how to live their life then to live it yourself. Think before you speak.

I Was Raised on Disney

2009-05-20T01:10:00.000-07:00

I love Disney. Always have, always will. Their stories seem deeper to me than what others see them for. Maybe I read into things that aren't there, but I feel that no one has put as much passion into their movies as Disney. I am, of course, talking about the animated classics.

Me and my friend Kimmie have made it a habit to re-visit our childhood through these movies every Monday. This week it was Tarzan.

It ended far too soon.

When I was a kid, I found that I could watch all of these movies over and over without getting sick of them. This same rule applies even years later. If I owned a copy, I would be watching it again, right this minute. They are Masterpieces.

I have also found that I am always sad when the two hours are up.

On the other hand, there are some (rare) Disney movies that I will never see. (Home on the Range... what the heck!?) They have, over the years, lost the passion. Thank goodness that Pixar still has theirs. And 'Up' comes out this week. defiantly gonna love it.

As for Disney? Let's hope this re-kindles something. I have high hopes.

The List

2009-05-18T23:07:00.001-07:00

I got 70% of my mission stuff in one day... it's happening so fast... There are so many things I want to do before I leave. So many goals left unfinished. I decided I needed a list. Then I forgot. But now I remember and I'm blogging it so people will make sure I do it.

The List

Stand on the top of a mountain
Hike inside of a cave
Go to a Canyon
Hike a slot canyon
Last Feast
Beat Shantel in a foot race
Jump in and out of a cloud's shadow
Bury a Time Capsule/Treasure Box
Go stargazing (and cloud gazing)
Eat a whole box of Otter pops
Just say it
Take Photos of all my friends
See Harry Potter 6
Movie Marathon
Zelda Marathon
Stink Pot at Glissmeyer's
3D Chalk with Andie
Go to Logan
Get Iron ports with dad
Sleep under the stars

[EDIT]
I revised it because I was told, and became aware, that it was lame.

Winnipeg, Take Me Home

2009-05-16T18:08:00.001-07:00

I'm leaving for Canada in August. I'll be living there for 2 years...

... And I just might see this. (That is, if I am aloud to stay up late enough)

And maybe one of these!

And if I'm really lucky... This!

I'm trying not to get my hopes up... But their already sky high!