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

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