Spring is here in Brampton

March has been amazing in the mission field.  It is a joy to work closely with these young warrior elders and angel sisters.  We love these young missionaries so much.  They are an awesome extension to our family.  They are like more grandchildren.

This was our chosen parking spot at our zone conference in London.  Scary to think we are in that category - well, at least in relation to all the missionaries.

Spring is here, unlike snowy Calgary back home.  We have some sun and a few snow flurries.  The clouds here in Brampton are so awesome.  We have seen lots of geese returning and even a few robins.

Two weeks ago, we had Family Home Evening at the home of Elder and Sister Hodgson.  The showed us a video of General Conference, October 1990.  Here, President Monson spoke of "Days Never to be Forgotten."  In this talk, he talked about the early days of the Church in Canada (Ontario), his time as a mission president here, and the beautiful Toronto Temple.  It was wonderful to watch.  Here is a link so that you can read or watch the talk.  If you can, watch it as the pictures are beautiful.

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1990/10/days-never-to-be-forgotten?lang=eng

We had the elders from our ward (Heart Lake Ward) for dinner last Sunday.  This was right before transfers.  Elder Garner and Elder Cruz are awesome.

This past week has been a wildly busy week.  Monday through Wednesday was transfers.  We had four super missionaries go home and five awesome and enthusiastic missionaries arrive.  Monday was arrival time for the new missionaries.  We had dinner with them at the Mission Home.  It is fun to get to know them.  Five new grandchildren for us.  As we arrived at the Mission Home, we notice tulips and daffodils coming up in the garden.  I love Spring.

 Dinner at the Mission Home is always fun.

Elder Kimball, our newest AP, got the last of the dessert.  We gave him the serving bowl and he cleaned it out.

Once transfers were finalized in the computer (Thursday), I had to do residency letters for all the missionaries and redo the transfer board in President Shields' office.

Friday, we had MLC (Mission Leadership Council).  This is for all zone leaders and sister trainer leaders to be trained by President and Sister Shields and the APs.  The office staff were on hand bright and early (7 AM) to make breakfast of waffles, fruit, yogurt and juice for this awesome group.  We got to eat too.  This council usually goes all day, but they finished after lunch (served by Sister Padron).  The Friday before General Conference we have four sessions booked at the temple for the missionaries who can get here in less than about 2 hours.  Elder Swendsen and I attended the second session.  There is such a wonderful spirit in the temple with all these wonderful missionaries.

The best thing of this past week was Wednesday, as we had the arrival of a new grandson, Everest Isaiah Swendsen.  He joins Evan and Tara's family with Cameron, Phoenix and Raelyn.  We now have 19 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  Added to these sweet ones are 193 wonderful missionaries.

 General Conference has been amazing so far.

We know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  The only way to have true happiness and joy is to keep our Father in Heaven's commandments.  Obedience brings blessings.  We love serving the Lord here in Brampton.