December 22

I am all settled in. I live in a trailer right behind the Church but don't worry this one is a lot nicer than the one that I lived in in Weyburn (By the way just recently the Elders are no longer living in the Trailer in Weyburn! Someone heard about it and had it get checked out and now it is condemned!! They are making sure that it gets completely taken out and taken down.....) I am about an hour outside of Regina.

I don't know the exact plans for Christmas we are going to be going to a bunch of different people's homes throughout  the day so we will do the skype call as soon as you can. So I am thinking probably around 10 if that works for you?

But I love you, take care! Please get back to me ASAP if 10 works or if you would prefer a different time! Thanks! Talk you soon.

December 16

Hey mom and Dad,

Sorry I didn't write yesterday I was really busy getting ready to go and other things with transfers being today!

Hey this week was really good. It was really warm all week like +5 then this weekend it really dropped to -10 and today it is -17.. and snowed a tiny bit lately.

I am being transferred I am going to Carry the Kettle and will probably be living out the rest of my mission out there on the Reserve! 

Zone Conference was great at the end we watched Meet the Mormons!

This week:

 Monday was P-day and went to sister Z's

Tuesday was Zone Conference all day long

Wednesday we got back into the swing of things and saw Derek

Thursday was transfer calls 

Friday weekly planning and other stuff

Saturday was ward party and bon-fire

Sunday was Church and eating all day long

Monday we went out to the Boonies and to say bye to other people

Love you both you take care!

December 1

December 1, 2014

This week:

Monday we had P-day and got a call to help Brother D bring some shelves into Sister H's home then we went over to Brother D's and had dinner and did an evaluation with him on the lesson that he came with us to on Thursday. Then we did some online work

Tuesday we contacted a lot of people and visited B at his store and then we had lunch did some online work and worked on contacting a lot of the less-active families in our ward, had dinner and stopped by a former investigator. Then had dinner with B and we went and started working on his garage door that almost fell off.

Wednesday we had District Meeting and then went to a healthy place for lunch and had Whopper Wednesday. Then did our online work and went to the Church and helped Brother  C set up some chairs for the funeral the next day. Then we went over and had a discussion with Brother L and went over our lesson we were about to teach to D. Then we went over to D with Brother L and taught about the power of Prayer. It went really well and D has been progressing and committed to pray about a baptismal date. Then after that we went and met a less-active part member family and had a good introduction to them, they were really nice and said we are always welcome. So we will see what we can do there! Then we went over to B's and finished fixing his Garage door

Thursday we had a Zone Training Meeting on the Church's new Christmas initiative. #ShareTheGift. You should look it up if you haven't already. The Church is putting a lot of time and money into what should be the biggest Christmas Initiative ever. They are expecting over 220,000,000 will view the website and watch the video. The Church has purchased the rights to have it advertised on the front page of YouTube from December 7 through the beginning of January and have the largest Billboard in Times-square NYC all Christmas season long too. Check it out at christmas.mormon.org! Then after that we went to the Forks and met with C again and taught him about the power of prayer and what he needs to do to receive a witness that what we are sharing is true. After that we went to the funeral and helped fold and handout the programs. Sat in at the Funeral and then we helped set up tables and chairs for the refreshments afterwards, then we left and tried contacting some more Less Active Families. Then we had an "American Thanksgiving" Dinner at the L's home with all the missionaries in our ward minus Steinbach missionaries.

Friday was super great because we did one of my new favorite hobbies! We donated Blood! Everyone in my District came even thought none of them really wanted too I kind of coerced them into coming and not one of them even passed out (Elder Spell got really dizzy and almost did but he didn't actually so no worries) There was an older man there though and he was at the refreshment stand and his arm just started leaking and spurting from his puncture wound. But no worries they contained it and he was fine. Then we had lunch and did our online. Weekly planned and walked around and passed out a bunch of #ShareTheGift pass-along cards and then came home had dinner and went to Basketball

Saturday we went to a SDA Bible Study and then Church service and then Potluck dinner. That was good we met some more really nice people and gave out some more pass-along cards to them...Then we stopped by B and he had to reschedule our appointment but we were able to help him out by shoveling his driveway. Then we went to the baptism that Steinbach had and then we went out to Brother H's place and had another "American Thanksgiving" dinner which was really good and that took up the rest of our night.

Sunday was good had missionary correlation and then stopped by B but he decided he wasn't coming to Church so we went and shoveled sister F's walkways and went to Church and D came to Sacrament meeting again and seemed to really enjoy it. Then second hour was all focused on missionary work and that was good and then we had a really good Gospel Principles Class. Then we came home had lunch did our online and made some invitations for the nativity to hand out to some people, then we went and handed some out and had dinner at sister Z's. Went to the CWM fireside and Pastor D of the SDA Church came with us and seemed to really like it, so that was good and that was our night, took indicators and K's

Today was P-day we went across town and had a joint P-day activity at Dalhousie Chapel and then we came home showered had lunch shopped and now e-mailing

-Love Elder Shane Dola

November 24

Monday we had p-day then we worked on Less-active stuff.

Tuesday we visited Bro D and briefed him on what we were going to do in our lesson which we were going to bring him with us to on Thursday. Then we saw sister C and went over a list with her, had lunch, and did online work. Then we saw Bro S, then we went and B had us over for KFC and we watched the Testaments with him.

Wednesday we had district meeting,had lunch, then we did online work, then we helped bro P go to his Chiropractor appointment. Stopped by some LA members and then we had a meal with J and X and tried to teach her a lesson.

Thursday we took Bro P to the hospital, then we went with the sisters and gave a less active member a blessing. Then we met brother D at the Forks and taught the restoration to B's friend C. That didn't quite go as planned but fortunately it turned out okay in the end. Then we had lunch and did online. Then we tried to contact our lost investigators but have not had any success. Then we went and taught a very powerful lesson to D on the plan of salvation where he expressed that many of his questions were answered and it was really good because Brother G came out with us. Then we came home, had dinner, and went over some more less-active stuff.

Friday we weekly planned and had lunch, did online work, looked for some service opportunities in the city, and then we had 3 member appointments the rest of the night.

Saturday we helped Brother P go to the hospital again and as far as I know he is still there. Then we went and helped Brother H all day with some more tree cutting down and clean-up then we finished assembling our LA list and had FHE with B and watched the Saratov Approach. Good movie.

Sunday we had missionary correlation. Went to wake up and help B get ready for church but he was gone... had church and it was the primary presentation which was good and D came again. After Church we gave a youth fireside on service to all the Youth and that went well. Then we went over to sister G and she fed us a really good dinner and then we went and helped B move some things from across town to his place. Then we visited with J and X except it was just X because J had to leave.

Today was p-day.

I love you mom I hope you have a great week! Take care!

-Love Elder Shane Dola

November 17

This week Monday we had p-day and then we went to J and X home and sister F came over and we ate a ton of food and shared a message seeing as it was going to be Elder Ruth's last time there they made a ton of food and made sure that we gorged ourselves.

Tuesday we helped rake the L's leaves and had interviews with President Thomas and then we went and helped Brother H cut down some trees at his office. One fell on Elder Ruth but he was fine. Then we had dinner with the C family visited the G family and then visited B one last time before Elder Ruth left.

Wednesday was district meeting and I had Elder Ruth do the training portion which was really good, then we went for lunch and met up with one of Elder Ruth's friends he knew in Kenora who wanted to say bye before Elder Ruth Headed back to Saskatchewan. That took forever and was on the other side of the city so we went there and came home then we had an appointment with the T family. Then we went and had dinner with the L family. 

Thursday Elder Ruth got the rest of his affairs in order before he had to leave we visited a few other members and went to transfer meeting then I picked up my new Companion Elder Griffith from California. We came back to our area and then we went and taught a lesson to J and X made us dinner and then we went and taught a really good lesson to D on the Plan of Salvation. The spirit was very strong and he really enjoyed it and had a suit all ready to come to church in that week. Then we picked up the other Elders who were in their Shorts in -20 because they got off a bus to a sports night which was cancelled and had no way home for like 20 minutes. We took them home, then we visited B and he got to meet Elder Griffith and we shared a quick message.

Friday Elder Griffith was feeling sick from something that he ate but we still managed to do our online work and weekly planned and had a dinner appointment with T and a member the sister have been working with. Then we had our basketball night which was pretty good.

Saturday we stopped by a investigators home who was in the process of opening the door but then just didn't open the door. I don't think he is interested anymore. So we just stopped by Sister Z and C to introduce Elder Griffith and they surprised us with Pancakes and Bacon and Hash-browns so we ate with them and visited B after. Then we went and did our online and went to the Forks, because B told us there was a big festival going on and we might be able to talk to some people. So we went there and it wasn't very big at all, just a stage with some Irish Dancers which was pretty neat, but we left and helped B move some stuff to VV-boutique and gave the P's each a blessing before we went to the C's for A's birthday party and ate a ton of Filipino food and then we went to the L's and finished raking the leaves and Elder Griffith got to meet the L family, then we came home.

Sunday we had missionary correlation meeting and then we went and woke up B for church... and he woke up but then fell back asleep and never ended up coming... then we went and tried to get J to come to Church but she declined and instead X cooked us breakfast. Then church came around and D came and he stayed for sacrament meeting then had to go but it was really good that he came! He really enjoyed it. Then the rest of church was good. We then had lunch and then stopped by some of our investigators who we couldn't get a hold of. But that was to no avail. Stopped by some members the ward has been trying to track down but I am pretty sure they are dead, or 103 years old. Then we shoveled sister F's walkways and she discovered us and made us come in and fed us dinner. Then we walked around a bit but no one was around so we went home collected indicators and then looked through our huge less-active list!

But I love you, you have a great day! Take care!

-Love Elder Shane Dola

November 10

Monday had p-day and stopped by a few others

Tuesday we had a Zone Training meeting and went for lunch then were busy the rest of the day and visited with brother L and had a good discussion with him

Wednesday we visited with J and X in the morning and then told on the high school kids to their principal for trashing the church parking lot then we went for lunch at Mongo's Grill and I got my lunch for free because it was my Birthday. So did Elder Spell because one of the cooks accidentally threw an egg at him and Elder Pestridge  got his for free too because they found a giant hair in his while they were cooking it. So it wasn't even that special because other people got free meals too! But that was good then we went and helped a member's friend clean out her house as she just had everything thrown into her apartment from her friend who just died. That was good. we explained to her what we did as missionaries and ended up taking a car load of dishes with us then we went and had dinner with the L family and taught a lesson then I had to do a baptismal interview for the sisters baptismal candidate. Then we went with the sisters and Zone leaders and had a turnover lesson to the sisters from the Zone Leaders.

Thursday we got together with our district and washed the dishes at the church for 2 hours, then we had our studies, did online, and gave M her dishes back.  Ee ended up teaching her a bit of the plan of salvation and were able to make her a new investigator then right after we went and visited D, who we have been contacting for quite a while and we taught him a bit of the plan of salvation and made him a new investigator too! Then we went and dropped some stuff off at VV-boutique and then helped sister C make sandwiches for the homeless the rest of the night. And we walked around looking for people to teach.

Friday we did our online and got water for the P's and then we went to the library and weekly planned. Then we stopped by a few people and had dinner with Sister Z and C and they bought all of the missionaries in our district Christmas trees for our apartments! Then we went to basketball night.

Saturday we did our online work, got transfer calls and I am staying in Winnipeg another transfer. We went out and had a lunch appointment with the H's and helped him do some things around his house and yard still preparing for the winter. Then we came back, showered, ate dinner, and then we went to the baptism, and cleaned up, and that was our night. 

Sunday we had missionary correlation church, which was good. We got 8 of our Less-Actives we have been working with attend church. Then we had lunch and a correlation meeting as a district for the list of all members and part-member families and Prospective elders and unbaptized children of record. Then we did our online work and had a dinner appointment with J and X.

November 3

This week went pretty good

Monday we had P-day and then we had a really good visit with a member who is allergic to the carpet and so is her daughter so they have a hard time coming out to church... but we brought Brother D with us. They really appreciated the visit. Then we went and contacted some of the potential investigators that we had tracted into on the previous Friday and the first one was busy but M, the second one, let us in and we had a really great experience with him. He is First Nations and turns out that he has always had a belief in Christ and has always wanted to learn more as he has always been the rock and main support in his family. His biggest concern was "Why doesn't God speak to men anymore like he did with Adam and Moses and Noah?" and "Why are there so many different Church's" and "What is going to happen to me after this life?" All perfect questions! It was great to be able to answer him and he really believed what we were sharing with him and the spirit was really strong, he accepted the invitation to be baptized, read the Book of Mormon and to come to church that Sunday! It was really exciting, definitely the most successful finding and teaching situation I have had here in Winnipeg!

Tuesday we helped sister Z clean up and organize her basement and got to hang out with her non-member husband then we had did online work and stopped by some potential investigators that we have been working with, saw J and X and read some of the Book of Mormon with them.

Wednesday we had district meeting and then we had lunch and made some poppies for sister C for the meals that she hand out to the homeless. Then we met with Brother L and had a good meeting with him and his Catholic-baptized Mormon wife joined with and we had a good meeting and she surprised us with cooking us a very large dinner. Then we went and visited B and he is doing well, then we went and were with X and J the rest of the night they had invited us to dinner

Thursday is was cold, we did our online work and visited Br at his shop and his friend was there who Br invited right there if he was interested in hear what we have to say and he was so we are going to be teaching him this week!. Then we had lunch and mowed sister F's lawns an had dinner and then we went and looked for people to teach

Friday we went out to G's place and split a ton of wood probably 3 times as much as we did the last time that we went out there and put some of his bee hives away into the bee house for the winter. Then we went to Sister Z's house for dinner and were there all night we helped her hand out Halloween candy all night   

Saturday we went to a bible study at the SDA which was good we got to share out thoughts and beliefs and the good thing was that almost everyone there except the pastor who was running the study were of different belief! Then we were there for their service and had been previously been invited over for dinner by one of the Elders in their congregation so we went there and had a good visit with them and had some good discussions on religion and had their completely vegan meal which was surprisingly good! Then we rushed over to Giant Tiger and helped with a service project with the Boys and Girls Club organization and met a really nice guy there who was also volunteering who has a brother in Boston who is a convert of the church! So that was good we had dinner and stopped by a few to no avail did online and then went for ice-cream to celebrate one of the sisters in our Districts birthday!

Sunday we got up thinking that it was 6:10 but really it was 7:10 (I set the clock back on the phone an hour for day-light savings but the phone decided to set it back another hour) so we were late for our missionary correlation meeting at 7:30...but after the meeting we went to M's and he didn't answer the door and the phone number he gave us was wrong but church was good even though M didn't come. Brother L came and Brother S came who are both Less-actives who we have been working with. We helped with the Giant Tiger Thing again that afternoon and had a good conversation with a girl who was volunteering there from Selkirk and referred her to the missionaries there. Then we had dinner and contacted some people but no one was home did our online work and tried to street contact but no one was on the streets that night so we came home collected indicators and that was our night!

Today the sisters cut my hair and did a very bad job. We went to p-day activity and then to Boston Pizza with almost the whole Zone to celebrate sister D's birthday today and then we went shopping at Costco for groceries and then now we are e-mailing..

Thanks for the e-mail! I love you you take care! 

-Love Elder Shane Dola

October 27

This week was rather interesting. Gave a lot of Priesthood blessings.

Monday we had our P-day and then we met with X and J and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ which was going pretty good until we explained receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those who hold the proper Priesthood authority. She got really mad because she knew that it was only men who hold the priesthood. So that lesson went completely down hill.

Tuesday we weekly planned, had lunch, did our online work, and raked some leaves for some people, stopped by a few members, did some street contacting to no avail. Had dinner and stopped by some former investigators and had a pretty good success, hopefully will be working with them soon, Then we went to Bishop Gatz's home, had a really good visit with him and his family and had a good lesson and some good dessert!

Wednesday we had our district meeting, had district lunch and had to stay at the church and watch it for a while because they were doing voting in the gym for the election here in Winnipeg. After that, we did our online work and tried to find more people to teach the rest of the day, and then had our appointment cancelled that night, and started our exchanges. 

Thursday, while on exchanges Elder P and I cleansed his apartment of their nasty futon mattress and threw it out the 6 story window. Then we did our online work, had lunch, and jumped on a bus and went down town and walked down Portage Ave...We ran into some of the most down-trodden people I have ever seen, and some people who I am pretty sure were on some pretty serious drugs! I really can tell why Winnipeg has such a bad name after walking there for a while! But nonetheless, it was very fun. We ran into a man who chose to be homeless to follow the way that Christ lived and he had met missionaries before, he invited us to the church for the Homeless that is in Winnipeg. While talking with him we got interrupted by a lady who gave us some pamphlets and warned us that God is an angry, killing, punishing God etc etc and that the bible was a warning for us to follow. So met them and ventured into some of the Winnipeg Tunnels and then back out and talked with quite a few people and weren't able to set any appointments but we gave out a lot of pass-along cards, all of the ones we had actually. We were looking for the Jehovah Witnesses because they usually have some of their members on the street and have stands and we were going to go and meet them and see if we could get some ideas about maybe doing the same thing downtown but we never found them but we made a random turn and ended up in China Town and ran into a girl who called us over and told us she was baptized when she was 12 and was just thinking about coming back to church and then she saw us! Then we were heading back to a bus stop and ran across a Church of Scientology and stopped by and that was the weirdest thing I have ever experienced... they gave us a free personality test and told us how to better ourselves through there Dianetics and other interesting stuff then we gave them some pass-along cards and shared some of our beliefs with them. Then we were heading back to a bus stop and a guy while walking piped in "YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO KEEP IT TO YOURSELF" and kept on walking. Then when we got on the bus, a creepy lady stared straight at me for like 5 minutes for no reason. Then we got home, had dinner, and walked and I met M, the new investigator who is Muslim and a very nice man.

Friday we weekly planned and had lunch, had our appointment cancelled, and then we saw sister Z and C and set up some appointments to see them. Contacted some more LA members and tracted out a whole neighborhood, had dinner, had our other appointment cancelled, went to basketball and one of the kids we met tracting came and it was a really good night. 

Saturday we went out and helped Brother Heieie do all kinds of stuff around his yard and his house preparing for winter and went to a corn maze and petting zoo with their family, and ate pizza.

Sunday we had missionary correlation and Church and M came, looking really classy in a white suit and pin-stripped shirt. We gave the sacrament to Bro L in his home and gave him a blessing. We had the rest of church, did our online, had our appointment cancelled. Then we ended up helping Sister L clean out water from her basement, had a dry shredded wheat patty for dinner, and then we went to the mission fireside.

But I love you, you take care! Talk to you later!

-Love Elder Shane Dola

All the food in our cupboard!

October 20

This week my companion and I realized that we are in the movie groundhog day. It feels like we have the same things happen to us every single day; it is actually rather depressing......

Monday we had p-day and there were no stores open so we really didn't have anything to do all day. After though we had a turkey dinner with our ward mission leader and his family so that was really good.

Tuesday we got groceries, had lunch, and then we did our online work, stopped by a few members and shared some spiritual messages with them and raked some leaves. We stopped by some more Less-active members homes to no avail. We met with J and X and read scriptures with her and shared dads conversion story and that seemed to really hit her hard. It was really good. Then we had our two other appointments cancelled on us so we went to the seventh day Adventist seminar and got to meet with and fellowship with some of the membership there, then we started exchanges.

Wednesday we went with the Sister missionaries and gave Sister H a priesthood blessing and shared a message with her. Then we had lunch and did our online work, then we walked over and saw B at his store and he introduced us to his colleague who we gave a Book of Mormon to. Unfortunately he is not at all interested in having us coming and teaching him. Then we had dinner and went to the last Seventh day seminar and met some more people there and were able to give out some pass-along cards

Thursday we raked some leaves for some members and for a place that that member gave us a referral to go and rake for! Then we went to Boon Cafe for lunch with our Seventh-day Adventist pastor and Seventh-day Adventist Evangelist. Seventh-day Adventists are vegetarian and lots are vegan so Boon Cafe is an all vegan place. It was actually really good and we had a good conversation on our religions and shared a few of our beliefs with them. After that we did our online work and then we street contacted for a while handed out a few pass-along card and then tried to see some more less-active members to no avail. Then we had a dinner appointment with the Cardona family which is always good, shared a message with them and then we went and saw B and were able to have a good meeting with him and we helped answer a lot of his questions.

Friday was our Zone Conference at Dalhousie Chapel. So we drove across town and had a conference and got to hang out with Elder Per Gosta Malm of the second quorum of the Seventy. He was a really nice guy and very funny. We had a good morning session and then the best lunch I have ever had at a Zone Conference, must be because there was a General Authority there so they stepped up their game, then we had our remaining training and teachings from him and learnt a lot about how to have different viewpoints on contacting people and looking more for signals. The whole theme of his training the whole day was based on two things: 1. The Gathering of the Tribes of Israel, and 2. Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. He related all of it to hastening the work of salvation. Lots was learnt and then following that he showed us some of our mission stats which were very depressing. After the conference I felt rather uplifted but also very depressed realizing how bad of a missionary I am and how it's almost over! But after that we drove home and had a dinner appointment with the O`s and had a good lesson with them and their daughter. Then we went to the remainder of Basketball night.

Saturday we went to the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath day service and that was something different. We met some more people and were even able to hand out some more pass-along cards and I was seated beside a lady who was from Lethbridge and when she found out that I was from Medicine Hat she talked to me the entire meeting. They were all really nice people. Then we went and had some rabbit food with them for lunch, which was actually pretty good. We invited the Pastors to come to stake conference on Sunday but they were not able to make it on the short notice, hopefully next time though. After that we went out to Brother H`s place again and helped him rip up all of his carpet and then we laid a bunch of hardwood floor down, ate pizza, and then laid some more floor, then came home.

Sunday we went to Dalhousie again and had Stake conference and B came. There was a new stake presidency called so that was interesting. After all the testimonies and what not were given Elder Malm`s traveling companion spoke and then Elder Malm spoke and gave a really good talk on how the members in the stake here need to go to the temple more and how more people need to be getting temple recommends so that the Winnipeg Stake can be a stake of Zion and so they can actually get their temple here! So after that we went home, had lunch and said a prayer that someone would come to us as we went out for the rest of the day and provide us with an opportunity to share the gospel. And before we were even able to get into our car a guy came up to us and asked us about our Church and we had a really good discussion with him and were able to bear testimony of some truths and what not; it was a miracle for sure. He was the first person who we have met on the street in like a month that has actually been interested in our message. Unfortunately he was not interested in meeting with us but we gave him our card and he lives in our apartment building so I am sure that we will see him again. Then we went out with the sisters to one of the less-active sisters they have been working with and we gave her a blessing and shared a message then we walked to a less-active members home to give them some Bread and a Pie and on our way of a walk of over half an hour we only had one person who would even stop and talk with us!!!! Anyways we got to the house and got invited in and we had a really good discussion with one of the members of the family who is less-active and has been closed towards us in the past but that day he really opened up to us and we got to resolve some concerns and set up a return appointment. So that was another miracle that day. Then we rushed to an unplanned dinner appointment (Our investigator wanted us to come over last second) but when we got there, there was some tension in the house and she just got up and left.  Her roommate a said they had an argument about cheese... But we went to try and get her to come back but she was gone. So we ate some of the food awkwardly and left because she never came back and we went to B`s and he fed us and we had another good discussion then we came home took indicators and went to bed.

Today we took our car in because it had a recall and it is all good now had p-day activity and played basketball got groceries and then now we are e-mailing... 

Have a good week.

Love Elder Shane Dola

October 13

Happy Thanksgiving too! We did nothing today! Nothing is open so we can’t shop so we had p-day activity, went to the gym, and that was all we did all day...later we will be going to our ward mission leader's home for dinner which should be nice!

My week was okay. The dog bites are all healed up now. 

Monday we had P-day and then we had dinner and went with the L family to their daughter's soccer game again. It was the final and unfortunately they lost and a member of their team got kicked and his foot broke in half... we ended up walking one of their daughters dogs the entire time because the husband of one of the daughters had a bad back and the huge dogs were pulling too much trying to get to the soccer ball to eat it. But it was good to be able to be there with them. They thanked us for coming with them and said "they were happy to have such good missionaries to help them but more importantly it was nice to have good friends to spend time with" so that was nice that they appreciate us so much even though I don't feel that we do all too much!

Tuesday we did on-line proselyting for a while and then we tried to contact some people on the streets to no avail. Had lunch, and made crafts with the sisters and the other Elders in our district for a member. Had dinner and stopped by a few Less-Active members’ homes, who we don't know to no avail, and then we went and had FHE with B, a recent convert, and then went home.

Wednesday we had district meeting and I had the sisters and my companion have a companionship inventory so that was fun. They hashed out some issues and now there is a less contention in our district, which is good! This mission has so much drama between some missionaries. It is worse than middle school! Then we had lunch and finished making our crafts, and stopped by some more people. Had dinner, stopped by some more people, and met a man who served a mission in the Philippines, and he has a testimony but wouldn't tell us why he is less-active.

Thursday we did our on-line work and then we walked around and contacted people around the museum to no avail. Then we had lunch, and raked some members leaves, and visited with B, a less active member who was recently baptized and has fallen off the path, but he contacted us and really wants to straighten up. He invited us to dinner on Sunday for thanksgiving and was going to come to church! Then we went to the H's and had dinner and helped him rip down his fireplace.

Friday we weekly planned and then we had lunch and did our on-line work. Then we went and raked some more members leaves and then we went and had dinner at the Ba's, which is always good, and we shared a message with them following. Then we went to basketball night, which has been dying down a lot lately.

Saturday us four Elders went out to the H's again and helped him with his wall again and Elder Ruth and I went and helped his neighbour build a really big shed all day. That was fun. Then we came back into town and had dinner with our district and the gateway district at sister Corley's, who made us all turkey dinner.

Sunday Brother L and Ba both came to church, which was good. However, B didn't. We called him and he said he was coming, but never showed up. We stopped by after church and he said he fell back asleep but to still come to dinner at 3:00, so we went out and contacted a few more people and then we went to his house for dinner. We got there at 3:00 (the time that he invited us to come over) and everything was already gone, all eaten and cleaned up, so we went home and ate some old welfare bread and some old welfare muffins for dinner instead...then we went and contacted some more less-active members to no avail. Most of them told us to go away. Then we did our on-line and contacted some more and none were home so we came back, collected indicators, and went to sleep.

Have a great week! Take care!

Love Elder Shane Dola

 at the soccer game

Thanksgiving crafts!

Don't you think this would be a great Christmas present for me?

October 6

This week nothing too much happened. I don't have too much to report, we were able to visit with a couple pastors from the Seventh Day Adventist church on Monday which was fun they bought us dinner, some really nice people. Then we taught J again....

Tuesday I don't recall anything too spectacular happened. We helped a less active move some things from her yard and met with B.

Wednesday we had district meeting and we did get to go to a soccer game.

Thursdays was transfers and we were able to meet with J and X again and we went and cut our Ward Mission leaders lawn.

Friday I am not in remembrance of what happened...

Saturday we had conference and then we had a meal with 22 missionaries by some of the members in our ward. Then we had conference, and then a dinner party with another member family in our ward, then the priesthood session, then we came home.

Sunday we had conference, lunch, more conference and then we had dinner and planned for the next week and made a bunch of phone calls.

But I love you mom. You take care and do not worry about the dog bites. If anything was seriously wrong the mission would have contacted you! :)

-Love Elder Shane Dola