But one theme that Elder Ritz and I have been finding is that in our lesson we getting really good and brushing away all those secondary problems and, as we like to say, just hack at the roots of it all. The Spirit is really working through us guiding us to what we need to say and share for those we teach to make changes and repent. It is wonderful!
But another great phrase that I read this morning in Jesus the Christ. It came right after talking about how the American continent was prepared for the Restoration. "The gospel of Jesus Christ is the embodiment of liberty." How's that for some 'Merica ;)
Tuesday the 17th:
I got to do an exchange with the one-week-fresh-out-of-the-MTC Elder Evans from Lehi. He's awesome! But goodness did we get work done that day! It was his first exchange so I was glad we got to have a great experience. Hopefully he isn't too disappointed when every one isn't like his first haha :) But we got to teach Fr. Esteves first about covenants out of Mosiah 5, but during the lesson we narrowed in on helping him find ways to improve himself. He's pretty chill with where he is so we invited him to read Alma 5 and choose something to change :)
Then we went to our next rendez-vous but they weren't ready for us. Thankfully we had some cushion time around it so we hit the streets and walked around for a bit. We got to talk to one guy who really wanted a Punjabi Book of Mormon. We'll see what we can do for him though! :D Then we taught Jonathan and Josephine who were former investigators and they had a friend over to so we started teaching her too! :D But all of them were pretty somber in light of recent world events and that Josephine is French, but their friend Pierette was also going through a lot of difficulties so they were all very receptive. We read from Mosiah 24 about bad things happening to good people but promised them that the Lord would help them through as well. Then we got to set up and visit Pierette and her husband later in the week! :D
Then we visited and taught Asad for the first time. He's from Lebanon and after a little while of talking with him he told us that his ex-wife and some of his kids are members. WHat!!! We met this guy on a street corner! The Lord really does prepare people and help us cross paths! But he's really was so receptive as well and we invited him to be baptized on the 9th of January, which he accepted! :D My favorite part was when Elder Evans bore his testimony though. He is a little shaky only being a week in but his love and the Spirit bore it home :)
Then! We had dinner with Sr. Loudin and Elder Evans got to practice his French in sharing the spiritual message :) We passed by and saw Everett as well :) And we finished out by seeing Joey and reading from the Book of Mormon. At first we talked about Ether 12:27 but then he asked us for something he didn't already know. So we broke out 3 Nephi 11 and also the "other sheep" scriptures. He just ate it up!
But the day was just fantastic! Elder Evans loved it! :D We taught 5 lessons and had 3 new investigators. Not too bad :)
Wednesday the 18th:
I loved companionship study with Elder Evans. But our study was just so much fun and it really made me want to train a missionary :) That and being a district leader and the only things left on my mission bucketlist haha :) Then we had our district meeting all together focusing a lot on Finding which was great :)
Afterward, we went right over to teach Francois with Sr. Loudin. Francois had us really worried at the beginning of the lesson. "I have somethings really grave to share with you. (I was preparing for the worst) For the first time...(Oh no here it comes)... I wasn't able to read the Book of Mormon last night." Haha in my head I was practically dancing around. It was awesome! The Spirit made him feel bad for not reading haha! :D But then we read 2 Nephi 2 that we left so we read it with him. We got talking about the Plan of Salvation, but we really dived into the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was so powerful! You could have cut through the Spirit with a knife during that lesson!!
We then went and got our groceries done for the week. Our P-day got cut very short... But it was all worth it because we got lots of Star Wars cereal... :) We were like kids in a candy store with it all :D At dinner with the Narcisos, they surprised us with Guarana and I surprised them by knowing what it was already! :D Seriously the best drink ever!
Then to finish our day we got to teach Fr. Katanga and Elder Ritz hacked at those roots and with a simple question we realized he's not reading the Book of Mormon. *Facepalm!* So we gave him Alma 37 to read :)
Thursday the 19th:
We went on another exchange and I got to have Elder Herring with me from Arizona. We had a blast! Seriously we were cracking jokes all day just laughing but teaching some great lessons! First we taught Martin about how he can find an answer for himself that the Book of Mormon is true. But at one point we asked a question and then Martin answered quickly with something like "I don't know" but we just sat there in silence for a couple minutes. Then Martin came out with a wonderful answer that was totally inspired. We loved it! :D That evening though, we had missionary coordination and ward council. From it we got a lot of good ideas out there to better work with the members and also get them on board with the work of salvation. We're going to push to have one member come out with us everyday. That way it'll be a steady increase and we'll help more people become acquainted. Life is good!
Friday the 20th:
After unexchanging in the morning, we had our studies and then Elder Ritz and I had a full session of Weekly Planning! It was beautiful! :D AFterward we got to teach Francois again. Sadly he still hadn't read since life was coming at him from every side. But in reading from Alma 32 we helped him realize that he doesn't have to read 1-2 hours everyday. He has to be diligent in doing it everyday though and just like with a plant, we can't just douse ourselves with tons and tons of water and call it good for a couple days. But he committed to change his study habits and read everyday! :D True doctrine understood changing behavior! :D
We got to have our second lesson with Asad. Sadly it wasn't too good because after talking about the nature of God and our relationship with him, Asad got distracted by the rent he has to pay. There wasn't much we could do about that so we ended our lesson a little early and left him with some phone numbers to call and so on.
Then we had dinner with the Morice family. I love Haitian food. I really need to learn how to cook a lot of this ethnic food because it's just too good :) Haitian and Brazilian are the top of the list :) Then we took Fr. Morice with us and visited Sr. Filteau where we taught about being an example of the believers but it didn't catch too much with her. But then we got to teach Pierette and her husband JP. JP had read up a little on us so he brought up the idea of exaltation as well as tithing but we explained it well. Fr. Morice was a little zealous in explaining a little too much haha :) But we explained the basis of our message and invited them to be baptized which they accepted! :D It was awesome! :D
Saturday the 21st:
So we got to follow up with Fr. Esteve on Alma 5 and he loved it! He pulled out some great insights and it was probably the best lesson I've ever had with him. Then we went up to Saint Laurent for some lessons. We got their a little early and right after getting out of our car we got talking to this young guy and ended up giving him a Book of Mormon. And as we were talking to him, Fr. Leveille showed up! It was awesome! :D
Then we taught Jacques, the son of Fr. Benoit. We taught the Restoration and he's ready to be baptized on the 9th of January! We're super excited for it all :) But he's reading regularly and learning lots! Then we went over to Sr. Garza's a 5 minute walk away. We followed up on how she's doing and she talked a lot about how she knows everything is true. So then Fr. Leveille just went for it and asked what's keeping her from coming to church. She skirted around it all but committed to come next week. But we're going to have to find out what the root of her problem is because it's not over yet! :)
That evening we went down to the stake center and got to watch the Cultural Celebration. It was so much fun! I saw so many familiar faces from all my areas! :D Valerie's daughter, a recent convert from Granby was even in it! Then the Champlain ward was strongly represented :) But my favorite was some young men from Ville Marie with their saw and axe :) Too good! :D It was just great :)
Sunday the 22nd: Montreal Temple Dedication
We got up a little early so we could get down to the stake center to be early for the first session of the dedication at 9. President Eyring presided and conducted. It was fun to have Presiding Bishop Caussé there. And since we were listening in French we got to hear his talk in his native tongue! :D He talked about how much power there is in the temple. He shared a story of his current home teacher and how as a less-active student at the U, he cleaned windows looking out over the Salt Lake Temple and how he saw how happy everyone was coming out of it. Then at a club people were making fun of the temple and he told everyone off and explained that the temple was where he was going to go. Amazing! He's now strongly rooted in the gospel with all of his family. The Temple is powerful. Pres. Eyring gave the prayer and a part that I loved is when he asked a blessing on us missionaries. Nothing like a prophet, seer, and revelator praying for you! :D
That afternoon we were busy working. We taught Francois again and he had read this time! So he was super ready to talk about the Plan of Salvation. He understood about the doctrine of restoration in the resurrection which blew me away. And it was amazing how he asked golden questions which always led to the next point in it all. It even led perfectly into leaving him with 3 Nephi 27 to read about the Gospel of Jesus Christ :D He's on fire!!!! He's so excited to be baptized :)
Then with Fr. Pellessier we taught Martin. Martin told us that he's really focused on getting a job right now so he hasn't had time to read. So then we pulled out 3 Nephi 13 about seeking first the kingdom of God. Martin took some time to really understand it but then he realized his error and that he does need to put God first. It was awesome! But really we hope that Martin will take it seriously and make some good changes :)
Then we went straight down to the Temple! I was amazed when I felt the Spirit sweep over me when I caught a glimpse of it while we were still driving up to it. We arrived right as all of the general authorities were in their cars and crowds were all around cheering them on. It was cool to see Pres. Eyring smiling from the passenger seat of a suburban :) But out in the cold I got to see all of the Schubert family from Ottawa!!! :D All of the guys gave me hugs which was sweet, especially from the son who gave me a running hug :) But they were so grateful for all I did :) Too good! (Sis Schubert was grateful for some follow up I did too and now her father is baptized! :D)
But then about 20 of us missionaries got to work! We first took out all of the chairs used in the 3 sessions and then we unwrapped all of the actual furniture and moved it back into the temple We had to get orange wristbands signifying that we had recommends :) And Elder Ritz and I got lucky enough to be the first ones in while everyone else moved chairs to and from the church. It truly is the House of the Lord :) It was also cool when the project manager totally did a bro handshake with us. We felt super accomplished :) I loved just roaming the halls of the sacred edifice and feeling of the Lord's presence there. I can't wait to go back to do some work! :D
Then Sister Hatfield from the office provided us with lunch which was well received :)
Life is wonderful :) I love this work. It's so true :) You're all wonderful :) I know that Temples truly are the House of the Lord. I also know that we need to go regularly because there is a Spirit that can only be felt there :)
Have a wonderful week! :D
Love,
Elder Brooks
Elder Brooks
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