Transfer 4, Week 2 - In which we had a great time as a trio

This week was pretty sweet.

We had a great week bringing souls to Christ. Talking to everyone and dedicating time to finding new, interested people to teach brings blessings. I want to relate an interesting experience we had.

We were knocking the door of this lady, A, who had expressed interested in learning more about the Restored Gospel. Suddenly, out comes this 25-year old lady, L. She tells us that A isn't home - she's just the dog walker. We shook her hand, introduced ourselves, and explained that we're missionaries. She initially responded something like, "Oh, cool," and started to keep going. We then briefly taught a bit about our Father in Heaven and bore testimony of Jesus Christ. Something changed. She then mentioned that we could swing by when she got home at 5. We did, and we were welcomed in graciously. Then, suddenly, out came her mother, B. B briefly asked us who we were. "Missionaries from the Church of" - she cut us off and said one word, "OUT." Honestly, it was practically a home invasion. 4 unknown men in her house. The situation got pretty awkward, especially for the member we brought with us. L pleaded for us to stay. Silence. After about 5 seconds, one of my companions mentioned that we'd only be there for about 10 minutes. B reluctantly pulled out some chairs, and sat in. We went through a solid "How to Begin Teaching" - explain our purpose, etc., and their expressions changed dramatically. We then taught about the Restoration. B explained that she'd never been baptized and said she'd like that. Both accepted baptism. Right before we could invite them to church, they asked if they could attend church with us. They attended and loved it.

On an unrelated noted, I think it's funny how some dogs here are covered in coats that make them look like marshmallows.

-Elder Crye

Transfer 4, Week 1 - In which there was a car accident

This week was pretty eventful.

Spoiler alert: I've been transferred for the first time now.

Over in the Heart Lake South proselyting area in Brampton, Elder Johnson from Eagle Mountain, Utah joined Elder Smith and me. Those were some good times. It was interesting - his teaching style was in almost perfect harmony with ours just to begin with. There were certainly a few pauses and such that we needed to work out, but our teaching went really smoothly. To use a cliche from The District, we taught a lesson this week that was "200% by the Spirit." It was with a lady named L, whom we had contacted about two months ago. We had taught her a pretty solid 5 minute Restoration (as best you can on the bus), but never really had a return appointment, just contact information. She had mentioned that she was pretty busy until New Years. Well, this week, while visiting with a less-active sister (who we wouldn't have really been able to teach very easily if we weren't in a trio), we got referred to her friend... L. We joined the less-active sister to visit L and set up an appointment. Then, the following night, we taught an awesome lesson to L and her family where the less-active bore powerful testimony of the First Vision. It was so sweet.

Being able to set up that lesson was quite possibly the reason I was in Heart Lake for just this week. I was the one that had originally contacted L. Having the trio for at least that week made teaching the less-active much easier. Then, having L see so many familiar faces definitely helped her receive the Gospel. Her and her husband have accepted baptismal dates, pending that they get an answer to their prayers about the Restoration, of course. We're stoked.

Meanwhile, the Bowmanville Elders got their car rear-ended. The missionaries have a system called Tiwi that monitors aggressive driving, etc. on a scale of green/yellow/red. The driver over in Bowmanville, had previously been "yellow-dotted" due to numerous potholes over in Timmins (far north, Ontario) so the collision triggered the Tiwi and tipped him over the balance to become "red-dotted" and thus banned from driving for now. ... So I've been shipped off to Bowmanville to find, teach, baptize, get people to the temple, and drive while I'm at it.

My ex-companions over in Heart Lake were doing well last I heard of them. They've been serving around a lot of the same Elders, so they bonded pretty quickly. Here in Bowmanville, my companions and I are also doing well. Elders Scott and Carullo had a chiropractor visit this morning. They both seem unscathed, but it's good to know that the Church watches out for missionaries here in Canada. I'm looking forward to driving here, outside of Brampton and its crazy drivers. I've only been here a day, so there's not a whole lot to report yet. 

Attached is a selfie in the library with my two new companions in Bowmanville. Unfortunately, I don't really have any pictures with Elder Johnson. Bowmanville is over by Oshawa, Ontario.

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For the record, Bowmanville gets quite a bit more snow than Brampton.

-Elder Crye

December 29, 2014: Pictures of my district this week and of Christmas from the week before

Elder Crye sent some pictures (but no mission stories at this time) during the week of December 29, 2014.

- Caralee

*****

                                                    These two pictures are of my district.

My companion, Elder Smith, may have broken his thumb. Morning sports got a little intense here.

This is the room with our Christmas tree and gifts we received.

Here we are, opening our Christmas presents.  A few more pictures too!

Thank you to all of you for your Christmas greetings and the presents we received.  We know we're loved.  We miss all of you too.

- Elder Gary Crye