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

August 25 - Winnipeg

This week was crazy Monday. We had 4 meal appointments saying goodbye to some friends and families.

Tuesday we had district meeting and saw some other people before I left. 

Wednesday was even busier as I said bye to everyone, taught some lessons, and set a baptismal date again for Jonnie.

Thursday got up at 4:30, left at 6 to Winnipeg and 

Friday and Saturday and Sunday I got situated with some of the members and the area and some of the leadership in the area and taught a few lessons to some members and less active members. 

Winnipeg is okay. It is just a big city with lots of road construction and concrete roads everywhere! The weather has sort of sucked ever since I got here. It was super hot and super humid the first day that I got here on Thursday, then it rained. Friday, Saturday and Sunday it just kept raining on and off, here a little there a little. Today it has been doing the same thing but I have not seen any huge storms yet?

I really didn't want to leave Regina but what can you do?  I had a brand new truck and now I have a car that lurches randomly and is dirty and smelly and wiper-blades don't work properly and it's always raining here! I had a lot of people that I was working hard with in Regina and lots of dates set for baptism or people who were set for baptism and here we have nothing!  Went from having it all to having nothing! And I can't find one of my journals I believe I may have lost it during packing/transfers! Also I miss the temple:(

But really that is just me being the pessimist I seem to be. I just need to get to work.

I love you, you take care! And don't you worry about me! I am fine.

-Love Elder Shane Dola

Goodbye!

August 18

Last week Monday we had P-day.

Tuesday was DM and other stuff throughout the day, and then we had dinner with the Burgess' and then went to a addiction recovery support group with one of our investigators and met a bunch of other people.

Wednesday we were on Exchanges and went to another DM and then we went out and helped out in White City again and then we came back and visited two different families and taught lessons, one which was super powerful. We also picked up trash in the hood but no worries I didn't run across any needles.

Thursday we had like 30 missionaries out in White City cleaning up and I had a stroke so that was not fun. We were there for 5+ hours straight and it was like 40degrees outside with the humidity! But after that and having had a stroke we went to East Side Marios with Sister C and it was so hot in there.  Then we did online work and then came home and I collapsed from my stoke of the heat (heat stroke) and didn't come back to my senses until the next morning.

Friday we went out and did some more yard work for the M's, who then fed us via BBQ, which was good. Then we went and did our "weekly service" and that involved more yard work. Then we visited E, had dinner, and taught X and H with Bro Speers and set a date for X to be baptized. It was great!

Saturday we took a load to the dump that we had been hauling around all day before from the M's service and while there, we got a call from the assistants telling us our transfer calls...then we had lunch, did our online work, weekly planned, and visited some more of our investigators. Then we had dinner and helped a new family move in and then visited P, and M and T before we came home.

Sunday we went and had a correlation meeting with breakfast at Brother Speers and then had church. H and X both came and so did A, so that was really good. C and I blessed the sacrament and we had a really good service the rest of the day. We said goodbye to E and then had dinner with the M family and then said goodbye to C, which was super hard. He did not want us to leave at all and whenever we said we had to go he just kept cutting us off and kept talking, trying to keep us there longer. When we went to our truck, he walked out and kept talking to us more. It was super hard and sad to see how upset he was about me leaving. Then we visited D and took indicators and did online work and that was our night.

But I have to get going now! Love you! You take care!

-Love Elder Shane Dola