So you might be wondering what the subject line is all about. Well Elder Soll shared a short little talk with me about a missionary who wanted to be able to really bring the Spirit into lessons because he experienced the difference when a member bore simple testimony and the room lit up with spiritual power. So he asked a general authority what he could do. Then this missionary received what to do: Fast and write down everything that pokes at the Spirit then fast from those things for 40 days. That's just Elder Soll and I have done this weekend. Let's just say that from my list, I am expecting some big changes that need to be made. But I invite you to find one thing that pokes at the Spirit that you can make a goal to change and become more purified in order to have the Spirit with you. I know that you will see blessings in your life especially in having the Holy Ghost with you more.
On to the week!
Tuesday 2nd:
All morning I was making calls to talk to district leaders and then with President Patrick. Then after some lunch, Elder Jenks and I went over to Angie & Drake's. We taught a lot about prophets which went well. They shared with us that they were off the nicotine patches which is awesome! I asked them if they had received blessings yet to help them with overcoming this addiction and they hadn't. So at the end of the lesson we gave them blessings. The Spirit was very strong during Angie's blessing and as soon as she stood up from the chair, Aubrey their 4 year old sat herself down, folded her arms and closed her eyes. We were a little surprised not knowing what to do so to help us understand she patted the top of her head and said "here, here!" So we gave Aubrey a blessing as well which actually made her hiccups go away! But I was amazed at how sensitive Aubrey was to the Spirit that she knew she wanted one too. Then we gave Drake a blessing which was powerful as well. I love these people so much! :) We unexchanged after that and immediately, Elder Soll and I helped someone move some stuff down 3 stories for a half hour. I have never done so many moves in my entire life since I became a missionary haha! :) Then we finally got to emails haha! Woohoo :) Life is crazy!
Wednesday 3rd:
Wednesday was a spirit-jam-packed day :) We had awesome studies together which just spilled into our lessons too. Our district meeting was super edifying. Elder Jones and I even did a musical number of the men's version of Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy which was awesome :) Then after that we got to teach Annalee for the first time. She was the media referral that we got the week before. She is so awesome! She told us how she was atheist for a long time but then her little 4 year old daughter was watching Veggie Tales and started asking questions about God. This led Annalee to start reading the Bible and then she started finding a lot of comfort in it all. SOOO COOL! :D She said she had heard that Mormons were nice so she reached out to us and now we're teaching her :) We taught her the whole Restoration and just gave her a good start to it all. But we came out of that lesson super pumped with the Spirit :)
Right after that we visited Dannette and shared a little message with her about Christ healing all the sick and afflicted in 3 Nephi. Then we gave her a super powerful blessing and everyone felt the Spirit :) To end the day we had dinner with the Bruno family from Brazil.... :) Yes Mom it was authentic and delicious :) It was a kind of chicken pie and then for dessert we had a myriad of things because Bro Bruno owns a catering business. So we got to try just about everything which included guava yogurt, brigaderos, and paçoca :)
Thursday 4th:
During companionship study we changed up our plans for our lesson with Angie and Drake which turned out to be so inspired. When we got over there, they shared that they were going through some trials right now of quitting smoking and figuring out their relationship and it was amazing because our message was tailored to strengthening ourselves and getting through rough times with prayer. It was wonderful because after having some great discussions Elder Soll and I were able to just let them know how much we care about them and everyone just left feeling wonderful :) Afterwards we went over to Sis Guerard's and ended up talking to her neighbors for an hour. Then we mowed Sis Guerard's lawn and had a super quick dinner before heading out. We went down to the Stake Center in the Chapel Hill area for Stake Council. We reported on the missionary work in the zone and answered some questions they had :) Super cool :)
Friday 5th:
We had a brunch with Brother Clegg of french toast which was delicious. He talked a lot about deep doctrine of the Bible which was fun. Then we had weekly planning which went well. And we did a lot of phone calls and getting organized. I was surprised by how many people are very open to missionaries even if they aren't coming to church. I like it :)
Saturday 6th:
We got to go back and teach Annalee again but this time her 12 year old step son Jared was there and participated too :) We focused on the Book of Mormon with them which was great. Annalee read up more on Joseph Smith (from a good source even) and so she was super prepared and said that next time she would have more time to get her step-son up to speed as well on what we've shared. It is such a privilege to teach them :) Then we started our purification fast :) We went to downtown Ottawa for a little with the other Champlain elders for a little pass-off lesson exchange. I stayed with Elder Jenks and we did some walking around. We met some super interesting people including some university graduates that had some good questions and were super open as well. We sat and talked with them in the grass at the park for a good 30 minutes or maybe even more :)
Sunday 7th:
We had stake conference which was a pleasure :) President Novak (stake president) spoke a lot about the promises that we have in the scriptures. One phrase he said was "It's our choice how close we are to the Savior." Then at the end we had Elder Gerard of the Quorum of the 70. The Spirit was so strong during his talk. He talked about finding sacred places of refuge and build upon the rock (Helaman 5:12) :) Super good :) In the afternoon we got to break our fast with Bishop Schiffler and his family :) Then Bishop asked us how much time we had before our next appointment. We had an hour and a half. So Bishop told us to come with him in his car. Then we drove out to the boonies away from Gatineau and visited two less-active families. Talk about Hastening the Work!!! :D Then we got to visit a former investigator who is super interested and open and we got to set up a return appointment! :D
Monday 8th: So yesterday, Elder Soll went up to Montreal with an Elder for an emergency transfer. So I was back here with his companion. We did grocery shopping and went to Routine Poutine (which is apparently kinda famous) and I finished for the first time an entire poutine! It was only a small but apparently my body can only handle that much.
Then when we were going to do emails we got a call from the relief society president asking us if we could go over to a hospital and give someone a blessing. Can't say no to that! So we shot off some stuff saying we are ok and got over there :) Casey is a long-time investigator for the other Champlain elders. She is so sassy and super funny! She was yelling at the nurses to bring her cookies :) Then when they brought her little tea biscuits she called the nurses liars haha :) It was all quite comical :) We then gave her a blessing and were on our way :) Then we went to dinner with the McDougal family and had pho which was super good :) They're a great family out in the outskirts of Gatineau :) And we finished off with visiting Bro. Lytle who started coming back to church on his own because his missionary son challenged him to read the Book of Mormon at the beginning of the year :) So many cool stories :)
So that was my week :) I didn't take too many pictures but I will try and repent and do better :)
I love you all so much! You are in my heart and on my mind every once in a while (not because you're not important but because my work of salvation hat covers a lot of space haha ;) )
I love you! :D
Elder Kennen Brooks :)
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