Hey family of mine!
Before I forget, Happy early Birthday Mom! :) Hope you enjoy it!
The rain has pretty much disappeared (knock on wood) so it's been a good week regardless of anything else haha. Yesterday was so hot!
Yeah we got to see the broadcast yesterday! Did President Monson look skinnier to you? We were all hoping for some historic announcement but the best we got was when Elder Perry talked about new technology! iPads would be cool :) It stinks that I won't get to see much of it. It's an exciting time to be a missionary! I'm so glad I got to witness the Hastening of the Work it's been so cool from a missionary perspective. The whole feel of missionary work has changed a lot. When President Monson talked about the town of St. Thomas, everyone in our building was like, "that's High Prairie!!!" Especially when they talked about the same people doing everything every week at church haha.
We met with Naomi twice this week and she's solid! She has a lot of questions, and like a lot of people her hang-up is with Joseph Smith, so we talked a lot about reading the Book of Mormon and how that's the only way she'll know it's true. It's hard sometimes asking people to take that big of a leap of faith, but if only they'd try it!
We started doing service at another retirement home here in town, but it's more for older people with medical problems, and let me tell you, I love them! They are the funniest people. We were taking some people into one of the rooms for an activity, and one of the resident ladies said "I'm going to my wedding party!" I looked up at the nurse, wondering what she was talking about, and she told me that last time not many people came to the activity and this particular lady had gotten upset because nobody had showed up to her wedding :( so she was excited to see if anyone showed up to the party afterwards! They have us going around and just talking with the residents, it's been fun they're funny funny people.
Hey I got my famous "trunky call" this week from the mission office. All she asked was where I wanted to fly into and I told her P-Town, Oregon!
I'm still amazed that we have missionaries living in our house by the way, do they walk the house like normal residents? Where do they eat? Do they use our bathroom? How do they like their room? Haha it's sweet I hope they're there when I get home!
That's pretty much my week! You guys have a good one and I'll to ya later.
Love Elder Read
Steven Read's adventures as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Canada Edmonton Mission.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
I don't want to sound trunky or anything, but I may or may not have 12 weeks left on my mission! Today was transfers and Elder Thompson and I stayed the same which was pretty much anticipated. President did call this morning and ask me to be District Leader....again haha. They opened Fairview, an area about an hour north, so they split our district, and it's now us and Valleyview.
We had Zone Training Meeting in Grande Prairie on Tuesday, so we drove in and then exchanged with Peace River right after. I went to their area with Elder Hunsaker and it was sweet! Like I said lats week we'd been on exchanges when I was in Millcreek so it was just like old times! They even got us another desk and chair, so our apartment is pretty much functional! We just need an iron and ironing board haha.
Man I can't believe Kyle's home! He picked a lame time to leave but a good time to get home, right in time for Summer! Tell him I love him :)
It rained all week, so not much has changed there. Today is sunny, but tomorrow is supposed to go right back to rain. I think I prefer tracting in snow haha.
We didn't teach any investigators this week so it was pretty slow, but we have an appointment with a lady named Naomi tomorrow morning. She was that referral from the Slave Lake elders. She's super solid and we stopped by yesterday to see how she was doing and ended up talking on her doorstep for about an hour it was sweet. She asked us if she needed to read anything before the visit so we jumped all over that! Haha. We're excited.
Okay we're heading out, have a good week!
Love ya!
Elder Read
We had Zone Training Meeting in Grande Prairie on Tuesday, so we drove in and then exchanged with Peace River right after. I went to their area with Elder Hunsaker and it was sweet! Like I said lats week we'd been on exchanges when I was in Millcreek so it was just like old times! They even got us another desk and chair, so our apartment is pretty much functional! We just need an iron and ironing board haha.
Man I can't believe Kyle's home! He picked a lame time to leave but a good time to get home, right in time for Summer! Tell him I love him :)
It rained all week, so not much has changed there. Today is sunny, but tomorrow is supposed to go right back to rain. I think I prefer tracting in snow haha.
We didn't teach any investigators this week so it was pretty slow, but we have an appointment with a lady named Naomi tomorrow morning. She was that referral from the Slave Lake elders. She's super solid and we stopped by yesterday to see how she was doing and ended up talking on her doorstep for about an hour it was sweet. She asked us if she needed to read anything before the visit so we jumped all over that! Haha. We're excited.
Okay we're heading out, have a good week!
Love ya!
Elder Read
Monday, June 10, 2013
Rain Rain Go Away...
Good Afternoon!
This week it rained, and rained, and rained some more. I've never seen Alberta like this, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention last year. Anyways we've been walking around in it and I'm ready for some sun! I never minded it in Oregon, but I never felt guilty if I wasn't out working in it either haha.
We've been busy with meetings and stuff! It was almost like being in Millcreek again. We had Interviews with President on Thursday so we drove up that day. It was pretty sad to have my last interview with President Campbell, he did a mini exit interview since he's basically been my mission president my whole mission. I'm excited for my actual exit interview with President Manion. I imagine it'll go something like, "Well Elder, let's see.......have we met? Now where is it you've been serving again? High Prairie? Where's that again?" Haha just kidding, they actually told us that he'll get here on June 28th, and that week he'll come up and do a "meet the president" thing, then the next week he'll go around the mission again and do interviews. So that'll be exciting!
Anywho, that night we stayed with the zone leaders along with two other areas, so we had to split off into trios it was pretty sweet! Elder Coe stayed with us too it was so good to see him again! Then Friday we had Zone Conference and we said goodbye to President and Sister Campbell and then drove home! Our week has been pretty ordinary outside of that.
Did you guys know that Kyle comes home this week?? That's a pretty crazy thought if you ask me! You'll have to let me know if he's a weirdo :)
Another interesting fact! Did you know that High Prairie is the most expensive town in Alberta? True story! There's one grocery store and it's proud to be the only one! They charge sooo much. Anyways, our Branch President told us that this week so I thought I'd share that with you :)
Skylar got married on Friday yeah? Man is that ever crazy! My friends are actually getting married! Both he and Whitney sent me wedding announcements so I put them up on my wall! Haha
Hey speaking of, we got mail on Friday, Gramma you are the best thanks! :) I got both of your letters and all of the articles in them of course. I love those things :)
This week we have Zone Training Meeting in Grande Prairie again so we'll be driving out there tomorrow morning, exchanging with Peace River, and then Elder Hunsaker and I will drive back to High Prairie. It'll be sweet, he was in my last zone so we've been on exchanges before.
It sounds like you guys had a sweet week! I'm still amazed that missionaries are living in my old room. I've been telling everyone! Haha living with members has always been my dream. Make sure to be those cool members that missionaries love :) Then you'll become famous in the mission and everyone will want to come to our ward!
We met with Matt, who's technically still on date to be baptized on July 6th, but he sat and texted during the entire lesson on Saturday, so we eventually just told him we'd come back another time haha it was pretty weird. He hasn't texted back in the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens! We also got a referral from Slave Lake, and one of their members had talked to a lady from High Prairie that came into their store. She had a lot of questions so they referred her to us. We stopped by this week and she's sweet! She doesn't want to meet in her house though, so we're waiting for the rain to stop so we can teach her outside haha.
Mom sorry to hear you're still not 100% yet, hope you feel better soon! I still cough like a smoker but that's still all I have so I'm not complaining. Hope you guys have a good week!
Love you guys,
Elder Read
This week it rained, and rained, and rained some more. I've never seen Alberta like this, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention last year. Anyways we've been walking around in it and I'm ready for some sun! I never minded it in Oregon, but I never felt guilty if I wasn't out working in it either haha.
We've been busy with meetings and stuff! It was almost like being in Millcreek again. We had Interviews with President on Thursday so we drove up that day. It was pretty sad to have my last interview with President Campbell, he did a mini exit interview since he's basically been my mission president my whole mission. I'm excited for my actual exit interview with President Manion. I imagine it'll go something like, "Well Elder, let's see.......have we met? Now where is it you've been serving again? High Prairie? Where's that again?" Haha just kidding, they actually told us that he'll get here on June 28th, and that week he'll come up and do a "meet the president" thing, then the next week he'll go around the mission again and do interviews. So that'll be exciting!
Anywho, that night we stayed with the zone leaders along with two other areas, so we had to split off into trios it was pretty sweet! Elder Coe stayed with us too it was so good to see him again! Then Friday we had Zone Conference and we said goodbye to President and Sister Campbell and then drove home! Our week has been pretty ordinary outside of that.
Did you guys know that Kyle comes home this week?? That's a pretty crazy thought if you ask me! You'll have to let me know if he's a weirdo :)
Another interesting fact! Did you know that High Prairie is the most expensive town in Alberta? True story! There's one grocery store and it's proud to be the only one! They charge sooo much. Anyways, our Branch President told us that this week so I thought I'd share that with you :)
Skylar got married on Friday yeah? Man is that ever crazy! My friends are actually getting married! Both he and Whitney sent me wedding announcements so I put them up on my wall! Haha
Hey speaking of, we got mail on Friday, Gramma you are the best thanks! :) I got both of your letters and all of the articles in them of course. I love those things :)
This week we have Zone Training Meeting in Grande Prairie again so we'll be driving out there tomorrow morning, exchanging with Peace River, and then Elder Hunsaker and I will drive back to High Prairie. It'll be sweet, he was in my last zone so we've been on exchanges before.
It sounds like you guys had a sweet week! I'm still amazed that missionaries are living in my old room. I've been telling everyone! Haha living with members has always been my dream. Make sure to be those cool members that missionaries love :) Then you'll become famous in the mission and everyone will want to come to our ward!
We met with Matt, who's technically still on date to be baptized on July 6th, but he sat and texted during the entire lesson on Saturday, so we eventually just told him we'd come back another time haha it was pretty weird. He hasn't texted back in the past couple of days, so we'll see what happens! We also got a referral from Slave Lake, and one of their members had talked to a lady from High Prairie that came into their store. She had a lot of questions so they referred her to us. We stopped by this week and she's sweet! She doesn't want to meet in her house though, so we're waiting for the rain to stop so we can teach her outside haha.
Mom sorry to hear you're still not 100% yet, hope you feel better soon! I still cough like a smoker but that's still all I have so I'm not complaining. Hope you guys have a good week!
Love you guys,
Elder Read
Monday, June 3, 2013
June Finally!
Hey friends!
This week was pretty sweet! I'll start from the beginning.
On Tuesday we had exchanges with the Peace River elders. I was with Elder Western, Who I went on exchanges with when I was in Millcreek. He is hilarious haha we had a lot of fun. His mom is the one that read that blog that you put my letters onto right before Christmas, so during calls she said "Do you know an Elder Read?" Small world! The elders there brought us a couch to put into our apartment, so now we have a little love seat AND a couch! It's becoming more like a functioning apartment every day.
Wednesday we drove to Peace River to exchange back and when you drive into the city you can look down into the valley and the city is right along the river. It's a beautiful view, but it was completely brown! There are these little things called Tent Caterpillars that are all over! There are so many of them. We drove down one of the streets and they were all over the gutter. I'll send a picture. Anyways they're in High Prairie too!! I've never seen these little guys before but we've been having fun stepping on them while we walk around :)
On Thursday I woke up with a sore throat and a cough, the sore throat is gone but the cough has lingered and I sound like a chain smoker when I laugh or cough. It was a strange feeling considering I never get legitimately sick. Only the High School fever :)
Friday we had a local Street Festival here, and it was put on by the many local religious groups around town, so we had a big part in it. Our branch put on a Family History booth and we were there to talk to people it was pretty sweet. The older people in the branch (so pretty much the whole branch) ran the booth and we just provided moral support haha. It's interesting to be in a small town where we meet the same people over and over again. It's sweet though I kind of like that dynamic.
On Saturday we were out tracting and this guy comes outside and yells for us to to come over. It's Matt! He's a guy that we street contacted a week or so ago, and we set up an appointment but we had to cancel it and never got to reschedule. But he randomly got off the couch and saw us walking so he ran out and yelled us over. So we went in and taught him about the Plan of Salvation and he liked it lot! He's really interested in Eternal Families so we centered it on the that. We also invited him to be baptized on July 7th and he accepted! He's got a little while to go yet though. He's on house arrest and has some smoking and drinking problems, but he's super sincere so we're excited!
That was our week! This week we have District Meeting in High Prairie, and Peace River is bringing us some desks that they got at the Salvation Army place that they do service at so we're stoked! I've been studying on an old rickety card table that shakes every time I touch it ha. We also have Interviews with President and Sister Campbell on Thursday so we'll drive in right before, stay the night with the Zone Leaders, and then have Zone Conference on Friday. It's the Campbell's last one so we're looking forward to it. It'll be sad to see them go though.
Haha the missionaries are living in my old room....that's sweet. We only live with super old people in my mission so either you're super young or the mission there is different :)
Well that's my stream of consciousness this week! You guys have a good week and I'll talk to you next week!
Love you guys,
Elder Read
This week was pretty sweet! I'll start from the beginning.
On Tuesday we had exchanges with the Peace River elders. I was with Elder Western, Who I went on exchanges with when I was in Millcreek. He is hilarious haha we had a lot of fun. His mom is the one that read that blog that you put my letters onto right before Christmas, so during calls she said "Do you know an Elder Read?" Small world! The elders there brought us a couch to put into our apartment, so now we have a little love seat AND a couch! It's becoming more like a functioning apartment every day.
Wednesday we drove to Peace River to exchange back and when you drive into the city you can look down into the valley and the city is right along the river. It's a beautiful view, but it was completely brown! There are these little things called Tent Caterpillars that are all over! There are so many of them. We drove down one of the streets and they were all over the gutter. I'll send a picture. Anyways they're in High Prairie too!! I've never seen these little guys before but we've been having fun stepping on them while we walk around :)
On Thursday I woke up with a sore throat and a cough, the sore throat is gone but the cough has lingered and I sound like a chain smoker when I laugh or cough. It was a strange feeling considering I never get legitimately sick. Only the High School fever :)
Friday we had a local Street Festival here, and it was put on by the many local religious groups around town, so we had a big part in it. Our branch put on a Family History booth and we were there to talk to people it was pretty sweet. The older people in the branch (so pretty much the whole branch) ran the booth and we just provided moral support haha. It's interesting to be in a small town where we meet the same people over and over again. It's sweet though I kind of like that dynamic.
On Saturday we were out tracting and this guy comes outside and yells for us to to come over. It's Matt! He's a guy that we street contacted a week or so ago, and we set up an appointment but we had to cancel it and never got to reschedule. But he randomly got off the couch and saw us walking so he ran out and yelled us over. So we went in and taught him about the Plan of Salvation and he liked it lot! He's really interested in Eternal Families so we centered it on the that. We also invited him to be baptized on July 7th and he accepted! He's got a little while to go yet though. He's on house arrest and has some smoking and drinking problems, but he's super sincere so we're excited!
That was our week! This week we have District Meeting in High Prairie, and Peace River is bringing us some desks that they got at the Salvation Army place that they do service at so we're stoked! I've been studying on an old rickety card table that shakes every time I touch it ha. We also have Interviews with President and Sister Campbell on Thursday so we'll drive in right before, stay the night with the Zone Leaders, and then have Zone Conference on Friday. It's the Campbell's last one so we're looking forward to it. It'll be sad to see them go though.
Haha the missionaries are living in my old room....that's sweet. We only live with super old people in my mission so either you're super young or the mission there is different :)
Well that's my stream of consciousness this week! You guys have a good week and I'll talk to you next week!
Love you guys,
Elder Read
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Happy Memorial Day!
Hello family of mine!
This week was pretty sweet. For starters, my Athletes Foot is no more! I've been religiously putting stuff on it and she's lookin' pretty good now. Thought you might like to know.
We found new investigators! We taught a family named the Peacocks that the branch has been working with for the past few months, and we set up weekly dinner appointments with them so that's sweet! We're trying to teach their grandchildren that live with them as well.
We also taught an older gentleman named Menno Friesen! We tracted into him a few weeks back and just got to meet with him on Saturday. He's legit, I was surprised that he believes a lot of the same stuff that we do. He said he would read the Book of Mormon and that we could come back so we're excited.
We also found a bunch of potential investigators that we'll hopefully contact this week, things picked up a lot last week. We found weekly service at the library doing random jobs, and also at the local seniors lodge doing yard work and playing games with the seniors! Man we're psyched.
Tuesday the Peace River elders came down and blitzed our area until Wednesday afternoon. It was good to see other missionaries again haha.
I'm being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I'm pretty sure I wrote about this last Summer, but this place is the worst I've seen in my life. It's like we live on a lake. We spend 90% of our time outside so they just feast upon us! I feel like that one guy from Lilo & Stitch that gets so excited about mosquitoes landing on him. "A mosquito has chosen me as his host! And another, and another!" Haha seriously so annoying.
Other than that we're working hard! I'm jealous of your Memorial Day adventure! Have a good time and enjoy the ice cream that stuff is the bomb! Sorry for the short email this week, hopefully next week will be more exciting! Have a good week :)
Love you guys!
Elder Read
This week was pretty sweet. For starters, my Athletes Foot is no more! I've been religiously putting stuff on it and she's lookin' pretty good now. Thought you might like to know.
We found new investigators! We taught a family named the Peacocks that the branch has been working with for the past few months, and we set up weekly dinner appointments with them so that's sweet! We're trying to teach their grandchildren that live with them as well.
We also taught an older gentleman named Menno Friesen! We tracted into him a few weeks back and just got to meet with him on Saturday. He's legit, I was surprised that he believes a lot of the same stuff that we do. He said he would read the Book of Mormon and that we could come back so we're excited.
We also found a bunch of potential investigators that we'll hopefully contact this week, things picked up a lot last week. We found weekly service at the library doing random jobs, and also at the local seniors lodge doing yard work and playing games with the seniors! Man we're psyched.
Tuesday the Peace River elders came down and blitzed our area until Wednesday afternoon. It was good to see other missionaries again haha.
I'm being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I'm pretty sure I wrote about this last Summer, but this place is the worst I've seen in my life. It's like we live on a lake. We spend 90% of our time outside so they just feast upon us! I feel like that one guy from Lilo & Stitch that gets so excited about mosquitoes landing on him. "A mosquito has chosen me as his host! And another, and another!" Haha seriously so annoying.
Other than that we're working hard! I'm jealous of your Memorial Day adventure! Have a good time and enjoy the ice cream that stuff is the bomb! Sorry for the short email this week, hopefully next week will be more exciting! Have a good week :)
Love you guys!
Elder Read
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