Sunday, October 30, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Missionary Letter #12 - Lame Halloween Costume
Last week it was wonderful. The sky was blue, the birds and small fluffy woodland creatures were singing and dancing and the sun was smiling down upon us with its rays of warmth. This week was a little different. And when I say a little I mean that because the weather up here has been so weird the sky is now permanently gray, the birds and small creatures are all either dead or frozen and for all we know the sun's gone out. But in terms of success it's been AWESOME!!! Turns out when you knock on someone's door they feel a tad more sympathy for you when it's cold and windy.
Seriously though this week was a power week. The Lord has seen fit in his infinite mercy to send the prepared our way. Our Zone Leader called us up and was like, "Elders, I don't know what we're starting to do right but the whole zone is starting to see more success, keep up the good work"
I must admit I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment at that. Which was immediately shot down because it wasn't my ability or accomplishments that helped us. The only thing that changed is that we worked harder and asked that the Lord would accept our efforts. I'm reminded of Ammon when he says " I boast in my God!" I find the more I study about the sons of Mosiah and Alma that my diligence is increasing because I want to invite people to know the truth just like they did.
I don't know if you remember but we're teaching someone who believes in some interesting proposals. He came to church for the first time in twenty years yesterday!!! He has admitted he needs to be coming back to learn and grow and we're so happy. He's really blended in quite well with the branch members. He was so happy afterwards and felt like he was apart of something. I remember emailing MaryElla and she mentioned that by coming to church everything else kind of resolves itself. It's true!!!
As far as Halloween goes we've been invited to judge the trunk or treat event this upcoming week. I think they plan to bribe us... I don't know but if we do show I hope there will be some investigators there. Also for those who didn't guess I am dressing up as a missionary for Halloween. As far as I know I think everyone in our zone is dressing up as one...
Anyways feel free to have fun, take it a step at a time and sing a song.
Elder Wolford
Seriously though this week was a power week. The Lord has seen fit in his infinite mercy to send the prepared our way. Our Zone Leader called us up and was like, "Elders, I don't know what we're starting to do right but the whole zone is starting to see more success, keep up the good work"
I must admit I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment at that. Which was immediately shot down because it wasn't my ability or accomplishments that helped us. The only thing that changed is that we worked harder and asked that the Lord would accept our efforts. I'm reminded of Ammon when he says " I boast in my God!" I find the more I study about the sons of Mosiah and Alma that my diligence is increasing because I want to invite people to know the truth just like they did.
I don't know if you remember but we're teaching someone who believes in some interesting proposals. He came to church for the first time in twenty years yesterday!!! He has admitted he needs to be coming back to learn and grow and we're so happy. He's really blended in quite well with the branch members. He was so happy afterwards and felt like he was apart of something. I remember emailing MaryElla and she mentioned that by coming to church everything else kind of resolves itself. It's true!!!
As far as Halloween goes we've been invited to judge the trunk or treat event this upcoming week. I think they plan to bribe us... I don't know but if we do show I hope there will be some investigators there. Also for those who didn't guess I am dressing up as a missionary for Halloween. As far as I know I think everyone in our zone is dressing up as one...
Anyways feel free to have fun, take it a step at a time and sing a song.
Elder Wolford
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Monday, October 17, 2016
Missionary Letter #11 - Flat Earth
I love my companion, but sometimes he doesn't tell me things that would really save me from a lot of stress. For example this last week we had our interviews with the mission president. I thought it was going to go something like this.
President Shields: Go ahead and sit down Elder Wolford how are you doing?"
Me: Aw great President, how about yourself?
President Shields: Good thank you... (pause for silence) I know you're hiding something from me, why don't we start with all the mistakes you've made... ever.
I was 100% sure that it was going to be like a baptismal interview but to my (stress relieving) surprise I had a wonderful chat about Belleville,how I'm coming along as a missionary and how we're doing as a companionship. Afterwards I got to talk to Sister Shields (who is just as awesome) and she complimented us on how many great ideas we'd come up with for finding new investigators and teaching them the gospel. Honestly I didn't know how to respond to that. I really think that it wasn't us but the Spirit, that and most of the new projects we're working on have yet to succeed or fail, but I'm confident that if nothing else we will touch the heart of someone out there. You never know what seeds you're planting.
This week at District Conference one of our Returning Members was accepted to receive the Priesthood, it was an awesome experience and he was so happy. Although the really surprising part is that a branch buddy also got called to receive it. We didn't get to stay for the ordination but you could tell they were both so happy afterwards and they could feel a difference.
Story: there are a lot of interesting and fun people here in Belleville, and it just happened that we were teaching someone for a while and the lesson was just kicking off when the guy said
Guy: "I just want you both to know that I believe the Earth is flat, and here is my evidence for that."
Us: pause
Us: pause
Me: So let's talk about church.
It didn't go quite like that but he did proceeded to procure a list of documents and Biblical scriptures that 'proved' the flat earth theory... At the time we had no idea how to respond to this but decided that a belief in a flat earth does not in fact interfere with eternal salvation. It was awesome. The guy is like 6' 7'' and the dictionary definition of a biker. It was surprising he had so much scriptural knowledge. Now we just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon.
The weather's getting colder down (up?) here. The trees are the most amazing colors and when you drive by it looks like the forest is almost on fire. Of course that also means that hockey has started and that is going to be awesome for contacting (whoot whoot). The rookie player for the Maples scored 4 points in his first game. That alone is an awesome conversation starter.
So anyways all's well here in Bellville, although I've noticed more and more American cars passing through recently. Either because it's skiing season or because they want homes before the mass flood of immigrants come driving/running/crawling to the safety of Canada. I think both reasons are good. If you want more details I'd recommend reading the latest Story Monster blog post (sponsor).
Guess what I'll be dressing up as for Halloween? I'll reveal it next week with pictures :)
Until then
Elder Wolford.
President Shields: Go ahead and sit down Elder Wolford how are you doing?"
Me: Aw great President, how about yourself?
President Shields: Good thank you... (pause for silence) I know you're hiding something from me, why don't we start with all the mistakes you've made... ever.
I was 100% sure that it was going to be like a baptismal interview but to my (stress relieving) surprise I had a wonderful chat about Belleville,how I'm coming along as a missionary and how we're doing as a companionship. Afterwards I got to talk to Sister Shields (who is just as awesome) and she complimented us on how many great ideas we'd come up with for finding new investigators and teaching them the gospel. Honestly I didn't know how to respond to that. I really think that it wasn't us but the Spirit, that and most of the new projects we're working on have yet to succeed or fail, but I'm confident that if nothing else we will touch the heart of someone out there. You never know what seeds you're planting.
This week at District Conference one of our Returning Members was accepted to receive the Priesthood, it was an awesome experience and he was so happy. Although the really surprising part is that a branch buddy also got called to receive it. We didn't get to stay for the ordination but you could tell they were both so happy afterwards and they could feel a difference.
Story: there are a lot of interesting and fun people here in Belleville, and it just happened that we were teaching someone for a while and the lesson was just kicking off when the guy said
Guy: "I just want you both to know that I believe the Earth is flat, and here is my evidence for that."
Us: pause
Us: pause
Me: So let's talk about church.
It didn't go quite like that but he did proceeded to procure a list of documents and Biblical scriptures that 'proved' the flat earth theory... At the time we had no idea how to respond to this but decided that a belief in a flat earth does not in fact interfere with eternal salvation. It was awesome. The guy is like 6' 7'' and the dictionary definition of a biker. It was surprising he had so much scriptural knowledge. Now we just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon.
The weather's getting colder down (up?) here. The trees are the most amazing colors and when you drive by it looks like the forest is almost on fire. Of course that also means that hockey has started and that is going to be awesome for contacting (whoot whoot). The rookie player for the Maples scored 4 points in his first game. That alone is an awesome conversation starter.
So anyways all's well here in Bellville, although I've noticed more and more American cars passing through recently. Either because it's skiing season or because they want homes before the mass flood of immigrants come driving/running/crawling to the safety of Canada. I think both reasons are good. If you want more details I'd recommend reading the latest Story Monster blog post (sponsor).
Guess what I'll be dressing up as for Halloween? I'll reveal it next week with pictures :)
Until then
Elder Wolford.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Steven's Missionary Email #10 - Playoff Baseball
Just a shout-out to Tommy's primary class, I enjoyed reading the letters you sent me, they made me feel like I was an all-star :)
Shout-out to Oma for getting me info on Porter Rockwell and sending me blog-posts. I LOVE YOU OMA!!!
Shout-out to Jim and Erin for the gifs, they're awesome.
Shout-out to my mission buddy Sister Lilly Dixon
and finally a shout out to you (yes you) for being a child of a Heavenly King, keep up the good work!
This week was an absolutely wonderful week. Not because something incredible happened. Not because there was a wonderful investigator (although there was one) and not because everything just seemed to work out. It was quite the opposite. This was a week that I like to call the 'shove week'. Let's compare the work of building the Kingdom of God to a stone being rolled. This week it seemed no matter how hard we pushed against that rock it just wouldn't move. Every day was rough, hard and difficult. I loved it.
Every day as things were getting harder and the burden just too heavy to bare I found the simple, tender mercies of the Lord sufficient. A day of bombed appointments was overshadowed by a wonderful street contact, an seemingly unproductive day was followed by the sweet sense of accomplishment from the Lord, and a tired and upset attitude replaced by one of thanks and gratitude for how the Lord has blessed me. I am indeed fortunate to be here, and my heart fills with love and gratitude to all of you who have given such wonderful examples to me through your kindness and faith.
When we sacrifice something to the Lord we are not giving something up, we are preparing ourselves to receive greater and eternal blessings. I know this to be true because I have felt His love made manifest to me every day.
A couple of questions have continued to pop up and I think it's about time I answered them.
The Canadians love baseball, and more specifically the BlueJays. We can start a conversation with nearly any male over the age of six about how awesome it is that the BlueJays slaughtered the Rangers, and how they are going to win this year. Although I'm sure as soon as hockey season starts up we'll need to switch up our contacting methods. You can't really play baseball in the rain (or at least the pro's don't, according to what I've heard. I haven't really seen them play so....)
So as every missionary comes home with a team he cheers for this one is mine, the BlueJays (enter thunderous applause).
The best thing about my week was teaching a new investigator. The worst was waking up one morning and it was just above freezing because the furnace hadn't been turned on. Let me tell you our work-out that morning was intense, I don't think I've ever lifted so much in my life.
In climatic conclusion take care of yourselves, and like I said before keep up the good work. No effort is ever wasted.
Elder Wolford
Shout-out to Oma for getting me info on Porter Rockwell and sending me blog-posts. I LOVE YOU OMA!!!
Shout-out to Jim and Erin for the gifs, they're awesome.
Shout-out to my mission buddy Sister Lilly Dixon
and finally a shout out to you (yes you) for being a child of a Heavenly King, keep up the good work!
This week was an absolutely wonderful week. Not because something incredible happened. Not because there was a wonderful investigator (although there was one) and not because everything just seemed to work out. It was quite the opposite. This was a week that I like to call the 'shove week'. Let's compare the work of building the Kingdom of God to a stone being rolled. This week it seemed no matter how hard we pushed against that rock it just wouldn't move. Every day was rough, hard and difficult. I loved it.
Every day as things were getting harder and the burden just too heavy to bare I found the simple, tender mercies of the Lord sufficient. A day of bombed appointments was overshadowed by a wonderful street contact, an seemingly unproductive day was followed by the sweet sense of accomplishment from the Lord, and a tired and upset attitude replaced by one of thanks and gratitude for how the Lord has blessed me. I am indeed fortunate to be here, and my heart fills with love and gratitude to all of you who have given such wonderful examples to me through your kindness and faith.
When we sacrifice something to the Lord we are not giving something up, we are preparing ourselves to receive greater and eternal blessings. I know this to be true because I have felt His love made manifest to me every day.
A couple of questions have continued to pop up and I think it's about time I answered them.
The Canadians love baseball, and more specifically the BlueJays. We can start a conversation with nearly any male over the age of six about how awesome it is that the BlueJays slaughtered the Rangers, and how they are going to win this year. Although I'm sure as soon as hockey season starts up we'll need to switch up our contacting methods. You can't really play baseball in the rain (or at least the pro's don't, according to what I've heard. I haven't really seen them play so....)
So as every missionary comes home with a team he cheers for this one is mine, the BlueJays (enter thunderous applause).
The best thing about my week was teaching a new investigator. The worst was waking up one morning and it was just above freezing because the furnace hadn't been turned on. Let me tell you our work-out that morning was intense, I don't think I've ever lifted so much in my life.
In climatic conclusion take care of yourselves, and like I said before keep up the good work. No effort is ever wasted.
Elder Wolford
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
Missionary Letter #9 - General Conference
General Conference Weekend!!!
There seems to be one popular questions circling around my inbox. What was my favorite talk. Honestly I left my notes back at the apartment under a stack of pass-along cards but the one that stuck out to me most of all was Elder Bednar's talk. Something about the way he speaks of Christ makes me feel so close to him. A lot of my questions about how to get closer to Christ were answered there. There were a lot of really good messages though, and was humbled deeply by quite a few of them (luckily it was the good type of humble not the Job kind of humble). One of my favorite suggestions to improve my BoM study was to read it as if I was Joseph Smith translating it for the first time. It's increased my testimony after one day of doing it. I can't wait to get my hands on the talks from General Conference so I can study and ponder the words of prophets.
A lot has happened to ya'll in the past week. A broken thumb, a few birthday's and a pass-around baby. Nothing very new is happening up here, although the sky has taken on a continuous gray hue as winter descends. It's funny because the people up here are like "It was so dry this summer" and me and my companion just laugh to each other about that. It is getting cold up here, which is awesome because I just didn't enjoy the icy cold enough.
Oh great I'm writing about the weather...
The really great thing is we got to go to the Brampton Ontario Temple. Which is wonderful because it's been a few months since I've got to go. So I needed that spiritual refreshment. It's always fun to go to an endowment session.
I have something to admit to... While we've been out here I've taught a new convert who has one great hobby... Crochet... Yes that is correct, my man card is under questions as both me and my companion compete viciously to complete our scarfs for the winter. It's an intense, high paced and action packed race that we both wish we hadn't gotten ourselves into. If anyone has an addiction help program for yarn and needles I would plead with you to send it to us. We need it.
We've got a new Zone Leader after this last transfer. Which is awesome except for the fact that the only other person that loved Sanderson novel's was the ZL that left. So it's a good/bad kind of thing.
I don't know if I've shared this yet by Canadians do have Thanksgiving, however it's in October instead of November. Which is awesome because that means we get a day of pure gluttony and then a week later we get an unimaginable amount of candy... (Elder McDonald is telling me that we don't get to trick or treat, which I don't think is a rule in the Missionary Handbook but I'll have to check ;)
You're all in my heart and in my prayers. I hope that something I say will at least provide a slight ray of joy for you. The wonder and joy you give me each week is something Iook forward too.
You have more power to do good than you know.
Elder Wolford
There seems to be one popular questions circling around my inbox. What was my favorite talk. Honestly I left my notes back at the apartment under a stack of pass-along cards but the one that stuck out to me most of all was Elder Bednar's talk. Something about the way he speaks of Christ makes me feel so close to him. A lot of my questions about how to get closer to Christ were answered there. There were a lot of really good messages though, and was humbled deeply by quite a few of them (luckily it was the good type of humble not the Job kind of humble). One of my favorite suggestions to improve my BoM study was to read it as if I was Joseph Smith translating it for the first time. It's increased my testimony after one day of doing it. I can't wait to get my hands on the talks from General Conference so I can study and ponder the words of prophets.
A lot has happened to ya'll in the past week. A broken thumb, a few birthday's and a pass-around baby. Nothing very new is happening up here, although the sky has taken on a continuous gray hue as winter descends. It's funny because the people up here are like "It was so dry this summer" and me and my companion just laugh to each other about that. It is getting cold up here, which is awesome because I just didn't enjoy the icy cold enough.
Oh great I'm writing about the weather...
The really great thing is we got to go to the Brampton Ontario Temple. Which is wonderful because it's been a few months since I've got to go. So I needed that spiritual refreshment. It's always fun to go to an endowment session.
I have something to admit to... While we've been out here I've taught a new convert who has one great hobby... Crochet... Yes that is correct, my man card is under questions as both me and my companion compete viciously to complete our scarfs for the winter. It's an intense, high paced and action packed race that we both wish we hadn't gotten ourselves into. If anyone has an addiction help program for yarn and needles I would plead with you to send it to us. We need it.
We've got a new Zone Leader after this last transfer. Which is awesome except for the fact that the only other person that loved Sanderson novel's was the ZL that left. So it's a good/bad kind of thing.
I don't know if I've shared this yet by Canadians do have Thanksgiving, however it's in October instead of November. Which is awesome because that means we get a day of pure gluttony and then a week later we get an unimaginable amount of candy... (Elder McDonald is telling me that we don't get to trick or treat, which I don't think is a rule in the Missionary Handbook but I'll have to check ;)
You're all in my heart and in my prayers. I hope that something I say will at least provide a slight ray of joy for you. The wonder and joy you give me each week is something Iook forward too.
You have more power to do good than you know.
Elder Wolford
Sunday, October 2, 2016
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