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

September 28

This week was a little crazy, a lot of fun and a few near death experiences including getting mauled by four rather large dogs....

Monday was a normal p-day we had dinner and then we went to this Seventh Day Adventist seminar, that was weird but the people were very nice and the Pastor is taking us to dinner tonight!

Tuesday was a interesting day we visited a member, and helped him take some plastic off his bed and take some trash out for him. Then we went and did our online work and had to go to anther eye appointment at Costco....after that we contacted a few people in the street and then we went over to a family to help them walk their dogs. We got there and were getting ready to take the three largest ones for a walk and Bro. L realized he needed to get a better leash for one and was apprehensive to leave the dogs alone with us, but after us telling him numerous times not to worry about it he quickly ran inside to get the leash. We were standing there and right when he went in a couple walked by the yard and the dogs started barking at them and got really excited and one jumped on me and her paw got stuck in my pocket so I lifted it out and pushed her off a bit and then all hell broke loose!!! All of the dogs thought that I was attacking them and so the three giant dogs started barking at me and jumping at me and chasing me in this tiny yard and we were standing there are bunched up because we were holding the leashes and they pinned us in there. I got bit a couple times got my shirt torn and multiple puncture wounds! It was crazy! it all happened within less than a minute! Then luckily brother L came out just as they were getting ready to eat me!!! But then they eventually calmed down, I dressed the wounds and we went about and walked the big crazy dogs! Then we had dinner with J and X and taught her the Plan of Salvation, most of which she doesn't agree with. 

Wednesday we had district meeting then we had lunch and Elder Ruth had to go to court and to the mission office and then we saw brother Sears and then shared a message at the L home and then they fed us dinner and then we went to another seminar later that night and met a few more people.

Thursday we spent all day out with Brother G. We helped him load some wood into his basement for winter and then we had dinner and helped his brother P pick rocks in a fairly large field for a couple hours then we went and helped his really old neighbors. We cleared out their garden and cut the grass and weed whipped it, cut some fire wood just all kinds of stuff then we went back Brother G and his wife fed us again and we met this random guy named C who just came out who was trying to sell some firewood, he had dinner with us and we invited him to learn from us. Then he left we shared some spiritual thoughts with Bro and Sister G and then we headed back into Winnipeg and that was our day.

Friday Elder Ruth had to go to a clinic to see a doctor about his knee, then he went to court again got that sorted out we did our Online and then went and helped sister F mow her lawn and X too then she fed us we went tracting for a bit and then we saw the C family shared a message with them and they fed us and we later went to another seminar and met some more people.

Saturday we got transfer calls. I am staying. We volunteered for an organization called boys and girls club where we went and helped with a BBQ they were running at Giant Tiger and I got to run around in a blazing hot Tiger costume for two hours in 30 degree weather harassing people and made some kids pretty happy and some other ones pretty scared. Then we did our online and just tried to find people the rest of the night to teach but to no avail.

Sunday we had missionary correlation and had to help our ward mission leader change the tire on his van then we had sacrament and Elder Ruth and I taught the Gospel Doctrine class. Later we stopped by some other members and LA members and then there was a CWM fireside at the YSA chapel

But I love you you take care!

  

-Love Elder Shane Dola

September 22

This week was not too eventful....

Monday was P-day and we tried to find some more people to teach

Tuesday we had a Specialized training meeting which was pretty fun. We got to have some good practices and good portions given. Then we went home and on the way there was a handicapped guy trying to wheel himself down the road so Elder Garner got out and pushed him for over a kilometre. Then we got home later and had dinner and then we went over and taught J the restoration with X, which was interesting. Then I went on Exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders.

Wednesday we went and dropped off Elder McGreogor who was heading back up to Flin Flon. Then we went about our day just doing the work in the Zone Leaders area.

Thursday we were able to visit M from Dryden. It was really good, he is doing great and is still keeping all the commandments and goes to church even when he is out of town. Then we spent the rest of the day trying to find people to teach. Then we visited B who is a recent convert and helped answer some of his questions.

Friday we Weekly Planned and saw a few members and walked around looking for people to teach. Then we had basketball night which was pretty good.

Saturday we got giant needles stabbed into our arms again and had blood pumped out into a tube into a bag (we donated blood) then we helped a family move. Then we went down town and tried to meet some people at rights-fest as the Human Right Museum opened this weekend and apparently Obama and Harper were there or are going to be there at one point or another. Then later we saw J and X again.

Sunday we went to church and walked around the city. Then we did our online work, then we had dinner, and then we stopped by some former investigators and had another Dinner with X and J and shared the plan of salvation with her.

But I love you.  Hope you have a great week! Take care

-Love Elder Shane Dola

I forgot to mention on Thursday Elder Ruth jumped on a bus and were contacting people downtown and when we went to take the bus back home we were on the bus for like 10 minutes and Elder Ruth realized he had lost the phone and the last place he had it was at the bus stop. So I said a prayer that we would be able to find the phone and so we got to the next bus stop and got off and waited like 25 minutes for the bus to take us back to the area of the the bus stop where we thought we lost the phone. So eventually we get back and sitting there on the bench was our phone. It had ding in it as if it were dropped or something but someone picked it up and put it back on the bench. Boring story I know but there was our miracle of the week!

September 15

This week was not the greatest week.

Monday was P-day and then we stopped by a few former investigators and had all of our other appointments cancelled.

Tuesday was pretty good. We helped a man weed a bit of his yard. Then we went to Costco and had lunch and waited forever for them to get Elder Ruth's contacts ordered.  Then we did a few other things, saw a few other people, had dinner, and then got a new investigator. Then we met with our other investigator.

Wednesday we had district meeting and had to go back to Costco, so we had lunch there again. We got the contacts, which took even longer than it did to order them. Did our online work then we walked the streets, visited the L family who have some really great dogs. 11 mastiffs.... then our other appointments got cancelled.

Thursday was fun. We went out and picked about 10,000 tomatoes and cucumbers and onions and beets and all the rest of the garden. We had lunch with R, then we went and helped G split wood for like 3 hours. Then he fed us and we came back into town and got a surprise dinner appointment from sister F, who was cooking and preparing us this meal all day, which was huge and we were so full, but ate it anyways!

Friday we weekly planned and got stuff ready for the BBQ all day and then had the BBQ which was good, besides the fact that they didn't have enough food!

Saturday we had an appointment with J but she left right when we got there and we don't know why. We went on exchanges and met a few other people throughout the day.

Sunday we had ward correlation and then ward council with our new bishop and then no one came to church! Gospel principles class was crazy. Priesthood was good  and then we spent the rest of the day contacting former investigators and less active members.

September 8

This week wasn't all too eventful:

Monday we had P-day and had a good dinner with our Bishop.

Tuesday we went out to a home in the boonies and mixed concrete and laid a slab down, ate dinner then we went back into town and Elder Ruth got called to Jury Duty back in El Paso so we had to go and get a form notarized so that he doesn't get sent to jail when he gets off of the plane to go home. The lawyer charged $42 for a signature and for the page to get stamped....can't wait for that day. We then went and had to get groceries so we didn't completely starve to death since Monday was Labor Day.

Wednesday we had district meeting, had lunch, and then climbed up on some roof and cleaned out the gutters and I burnt my hand the roof was so hot! Then we were busy stopping by a few other people and then we went to Staples, made some pass-along cards, and then stopped by a few more former investigators to no avail.

Thursday nothing really went through according to plan. We had dinner with Serge and Ging Cardona and then Villy Cardona from Regina showed up, so that was weird, and even weirder was we had Huber corn for part of our dinner...

Friday we weekly planned, saw some other people, climbed up on another roof and almost got struck by lightning. Then we went home and tried to make dinner but our stove was taking forever to cook our spaghetti squash so we were only able to eat our garlic toast and half way through eating it Elder Ruth noticed that the bottom of the bread was super moldy lol so we threw that away and played basketball and our investigators didn't show up again unfortunately.

Saturday we visited another member and called some other members, had a dinner appointment, and spent the rest of the night trying to find people to teach.

Sunday was interesting. A guy randomly walked into church half way through Sacrament, which was too bad because the stake presidency was there and they just replaced the Bishopric, so it was a different kind of meeting. But afterwards we talked to him and gave him a BOM and he stayed for Gospel Principles and unfortunately I think the teacher may have scared him off and he took off right before the class was over and we chased him down in the street and said he would come back to church if he is interested anymore. Then we tried setting up a bunch of appointments with some other members and got a surprise. A member from the YSA ward had a new roommate, who we were able to teach and eat dinner with and it went really good. Then we had another dinner appointment, which was strange. Then we were able to contact some Less-active members and set up some appointments and then I took indicators.

But I love you have a great week!

-Love Elder Shane Dola

September 1

Well this week we didn't seem to really accomplish anything...

Monday was P-day and we actually had an appointment with an investigator and we even had a priest to come with us but when we got there no one answered the door! So we went tracting for a bit. Then we got a text from a member we didn't know and he wanted us to come and teach him so we went over and ends up that this guy is crazy so that was what our night was. Then we went to the dollar store and bought some grabbers and some bags and just picked up some garbage and tried to contact people that way.

Tuesday we got some boiled eggs from the sister missionaries, who got them from a member. Then we contacted people on the streets and found a potential investigator. Then we had an appointment with a less-active member, but when we got there (and we had a member with us for fellowship), they were just leaving and were one their way to Montreal, because apparently that is where they are now going to live...we then picked up garbage again for a while. Then we had dinner and had our other appointment with a recent convert less active get cancelled. Then we contacted a few former investigators and set up an appointment with one of them for the next day.

Wednesday I had my district meeting and then we didn't have time for lunch so we rushed over to our appointment, only to have no one answer the door. We then visited a member and got to know him, then we trash picked again... then we had dinner and then our appointment that night got cancelled again. Then we ended up helping our ward mission leader move a new washer and dryer into his home from bishop's home.

Thursday we visited a few former's and got a hot dog at Costco for lunch. Then we went and helped a member from another ward load up a moving van and then got fed again. Then we drove out into the Boonies and helped a member do some gardening but before that he fed us a very large meal. Then we were there the rest of the day and that was probably the highlight of my week.

Friday we delivered some bread and food from a member to another member's home and weekly planned and then we had lunch and helped a lady clean up her place a bit. Then we did some online work and then we went and contacted a few more former's and had a meal appointment with a member and had the most awkward lesson I have had on my entire mission with their family. Then we had basketball night and the two people we have been trying to work with didn't even show up and my assumption is because we invited them to hear what we share with people and they have ignored us ever since!

Saturday we finished weekly planning, had lunch and then we did stuff but I don't remember what. Later we did our online work and then helped an older couple by filling up their water jugs. We then went and mowed a sister's lawns for her house and her other house....then she took us out to eat at a restaurant named "Foody Goodie" which was good. We then stopped by a few more former's that night, but no one was home.

Sunday we had a correlation meeting and Sacrament meeting and gospel principles. Then we attended the combined fifth Sunday meeting. We then had lunch, did our online work and not too much else happened the rest of the day. Later we had dinner and then went to a mission fireside and none of the people we invited to come with us came...

Today is P-day and everything is closed so we haven't done anything all day except for playing volleyball for p-day Zone activity, doing laundry and drinking Double Gulp's...

-Love Elder Shane Dola