We have been so busy the last few weeks, we often have naps when we get home and then dinner later in the evening. Friday, May 18th, we had a surprise birthday dinner at Vesuvios for Elder Donnelly, our medical advisor. He was turning 70! We had a great time with lots of fun and laughter. He got a free birthday dessert with our half of the restaurant all singing happy birthday to him. There was a live guitar player there and so we even had musical accompaniment. After dinner, we went for a lovely stroll through Gage Park which is just across the street from the restaurant.
On Saturday, Elder Swendsen and I went on a nature walk around the lake by our apartment. They finished the construction at the south end and now there is a nice play area and picnic area. So many beautiful trees in the area are in bloom.
On Sunday, Elder Swendsen gave a very good talk in Sacrament Meeting on the Restoration of the Priesthood. I taught the Relief Society lesson that day on Temple and Family History work.
Monday, May 21st, was our monthly Silver Maple Family Home Evening. We met at Elder and Sister Donnelly's apartment. We all were invited to tell a story about one of our ancestors. It was interesting and a lot of fun. Treats were yummy.
May 23-25 was Zone Conference time. It comes around so fast, it seems, every 6 weeks. Wednesday we were in Oshawa, Thursday - Burlington, and Friday - Barrie. We love Zone Conferences. We get to see all the missionaries and feel of their great spirits. Car inspections went well and most cars were fairly clean. I also have now learned how to change the air filters in Toyota Rav 4s. Elder Swendsen reminded the missionaries about getting their K reports (car reports) in the FIRST of the month. He also reminded them that their kilometer allotment for the month is not a suggestion, but a mission rule. Many of the missionaries are really trying to keep their kilometers down. We have had some great response. Here are two postings by two different companionships:
So I got raked by the spirit during Elder Swendsen's
instruction about k's, for not being as diligent as I could have been in the
past with my kilometers. I always justified not walking places or driving more
because I could do for effective things with my time if I drove to place with
more people, but the K Limit is something we have been asked to do and is a
mission rule. (1 Nephi 3:7) The Spirit told me I haven't been trusting The Lord
with that one. Alas, I felt horrible and needless to say I am currently
in the process of repenting and on the next day after Zone Conference me and
Elder Moulin decided we would walk to some of our appointments and like 3
minutes into our first walk, we walked up to a community garden and met a
Former that hadn't been contacted for a year or so and she said we could come
by again and teach her 9 year old son, and we met another lady that said she
would like to meet up as well because of all the crazy things going on in life.
It was a very humbling experience for me because we would have never had talked
to either of them had we driven to the appointment. It was amazing to see The
Lord truly does provide a way for his servents to accomplish his work and was a
testimony builder for me. Thank you Elder Mike Swendsen
From Elder Talbot
Ok. So here's the deal. We are over our k's. So we had the
choice to give up and just drive or try to save what we could our last few
days. So we decided to walk an hour and a half to our dinner appointment. And
lemme tell you MIRACLES ARE SO REAL. We are walking back along a main road, and
we start talking to this family. They are super interested and as we start to walk
away she runs after us and asks for another card so she can bring her friend to
church. Miracle number one. Well little did we know this man and his wife who
were pushing their little baby in a stroller on the OTHER side of the street
had been watching us. They called after us from across the road and asked us to
meet them at the next light. They asked if we were sharing the bible and we
taught them all about the Book of Mormon and they are coming to church on
Sunday!! Car fasts are real. Thank you Elder Mike Swendsen
From Sisters Fitzgerald and Shields
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| Early - parking lot is empty |
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| Cars all lined up |
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| checking the oil |
After Thursday's Zone Conference in Burlington, we went to the local Royal Botanical Gardens with Elder and Sister Donnelly. The gardens are spread over a large area, so you drive a couple of minutes to each one and then get out and walk. They were gorgeous. Tulips were still in bloom and the lilac area was spectacular. We didn't know that there were so many varieties of lilacs. Watch out for turtles - crossing warning. There was also a magnolia tree in bloom. We then drove down Lakeshore Road, by Lake Ontario and stopped to take a look.
Saturday, May 26th, we went to the African Lion Safari out near Hamilton, with the Donnellys. This is a great place for families. We first drove through the animal preserve - took well over an hour. So many animals to see, some up close and personal. There were large flocks of Canada Geese everywhere. We had a bison walk right past our car. An ostrich tried to eat the side mirror on the car. It also kept hitting the side windows with its beak - trying to get it. There were other animals to walk around and see. We got to watch the elephants play and swim in the lake. There are the usual eating places and souvenir shops. There is a huge water play area for kids. We were so hot, we wanted to just walk through to get a little wet and cool off.
This past week in the Mission Office, we have been busy, as usual. Wednesday was Mission Leadership Council (MLC). The three office couples were at the Mission Office at 7 AM to make breakfast for the leadership of the mission. There were about 36 young missionaries to feed - waffles, fruit, yogurt and juice. Again, we just love being with these wonderful missionaries. They are indeed - "Astonishing!"
Friday and Saturday (June 1st & 2nd), we had a Senior Missionary Conference. We have such a great time when we get together. Friday afternoon, most of the couples attended the 1:30 session at the Toronto Temple. We later met at the Mission Home for appetizers and dinner. We had a barbecue with lots of good food. We had a program after dinner. First up I talked about my pioneer ancestors, Samuel Wilcox and Martha Bolton, who joined the Church in 1839 in eastern Ontario and later went to Nauvoo, Illinois and then on the Utah. After that, Elder Swendsen and I sang two songs while he played the guitar. We had written four new verses to "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" - the seniors version and then also a take off on Gordon Lightfoot's "Alberta Bound". We only have 6 weeks and we will be Alberta bound. Next, Sister Morse told about one of her ancestors and sang a song that she wrote about her. Our last activity was led by Sister Shields. Everyone had to write down, on a card, something that no-one would know about them. As each one was read out, we had to guess who it was. Once you were discovered, you had to tell the story about the incident. We laughed and laughed - what a motley group when we were young; and now we are all missionaries.
Here are the lyrics to the songs we sang:
WE HOPE THEY CALL US ON A MISSION
We hoped they’d call us on a mission,
Though we’re no longer in our youth.
We hope that we’ll be truly ready
To work and serve the Lord like missionaries
do.
Well we’re glad they called us on a mission.
We’re here serving with a smile.
We serve the Lord with dedication
And get up evr’y day, and make our time
worthwhile.
We’re glad we went and served a mission.
We’re pleased we went to serve the Lord.
We loved being senior missionaries.
We showed the Lord we know the value of His
word.
We hope they’ll call us on a mission,
Though we’re no longer in our youth.
We hope that we’ll be truly ready
To work and serve the Lord like missionaries
do.
Alberta
Bound,
with
apologies to Gordon Lightfoot
Oh, the
Prairie Lights are burning bright
Chinook winds
are movin’ in
Someday soon
we’ll be Alberta bound.
We've always
done the best we could
To serve the
Lord where e’r we stood,
And someday
soon we’ll be Alberta bound.
No one we met
could e’r forget
A Rocky
Mountain Sunset.
It’s a
pleasure just to be Alberta Bound.
We long to see
our next of kin,
To know what
kind of shape they’re in,
Someday soon
we’ll be Alberta Bound.
Alberta bound,
Alberta bound,
It’s good to
be Alberta bound.
Alberta bound,
Alberta bound,
it’s good to
be Alberta bound.
Oh, the
skyline of Toronto
Is something
you get onto,
but they say
you got to live here for awhile.
You can go and
serve a mission
With all of
your ambition,
Then tread the
Saviour’s footsteps for a mile.
The new folks
that are comin’ in
Will be so
blessed, they way we’ve bin’.
The blessings,
they just keep goin’ round.
It’s homeward
bound that we will go.
You gotta know
we’ll miss you so,
It’s now’s our
time to be Alberta bound.
Alberta bound,
Alberta bound,
It’s good to
be Alberta bound.
Alberta bound,
Alberta bound,
it’s good to
be Alberta bound.
Saturday morning started with a presentation by one of our guests, Carma Prete. She and her husband, Roy, have written an extensive book about Canadian Mormons. She talked about the early days of the Church in Ontario. It was very interesting. Elder and Sister Rozier followed with teaching us how to minister in the far corners of our mission and our assignments. Elder and Sister Knight then shared some of the experiences that they have had serving in the Bishop's Storehouse. President and Sister Shields ended the morning with some great thoughts and love. Following a great lunch, we headed out for our afternoon activity. We went to PAMA - Peel Area Museum and Archives. We all spent a couple of hours in their art gallery and the museum. It was very interesting. The week is over and we are tired but so very happy.
We are so grateful to be serving a mission. We are grateful for our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. The Plan of Salvation is the great Plan of Happiness. Our Father in Heaven hears and answers our prayers.
