May 1-7, 2023

Time really does seem to go faster as we approach the end of our mission.  We leave here in 45 days!  But who's counting?

After Bishops Storehouse on Saturday, we took Solomon and Wumi out for brunch at Oeuf Plus, our favorite déjeuner/petit déjeuner place here in Châteauguay.  We weren't aware but this is the first restaurant they have been to since arriving in Montréal 16 months ago.  It was a beautiful spring day, 72 degrees F and they both were wearing winter coats.  Wumi was wearing a fur coat and didn't even take it off in the restaurant because she was too cold!  It reminded us of our time in Ghana when it was 80+ degrees and we would see people wearing parkas because the temperature had dropped so low.  They both ordered hot chocolate and gave us a bad time when our water arrived with ice and we both took a big drink.  Wumi informed us that ice and cold drinks were not good for old people.  Guess that makes us young, still!

Mount Royal and Montréal combined Zone Conference

Yep, Zone Conference again - so soon after the mission tour.  We learned more about enduring to the end.  President and Sister Harkness started with these questions:
  • What is the end?
  • Where is the end?
  • Why do I want to go there?
We talked about "I would give anything if...".  Sister Harkness reminded us that it is not a matter of "if."  It is a matter of "effort."  President Harkness read the lyrics of a Christmas song titled What Shall We Give?  The music was arranged by Mack Wilberg with the English text by David Warner.

What shall we give to the babe in the manger?
What shall we offer the child in the stall?
Incense and spice and gold we've a-plenty,
Are these the gifts for the king of us all?

What shall we give to the boy in the temple,
What shall we offer the man by the sea?
Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising;
Are these for him who will carry the tree?

What shall we give to the lamb who was offered,
Rising the third day and shedding his love?
Tears for his mercy we'll weep at the manger,
Bathing the infant come down from above.

I have probably heard the Tabernacle Choir sing this song but don't recall it.  The words are beautiful and made me think.  What do I have to offer while enduring to the end?

Sister Harkness asked us to use the hymns and uplifting music more in our lives.  Music has a great effect on our souls.  She asked us to think about what songs/hymns will accompany you when:

- You feel grateful                           - You need peace                            - You are working        

- You need to repent                        - You need to forgive                      - You remember the Savior

- Someone you love dies                 - You need to remember who you are

- You fail or disappoint someone    - You are confused                           - You need to sleep

- You need to get motivated            - You are doing something uninteresting

- You feel worried / anxious            - Someone in your family is hurting

Elder and Sister Kjar

This was the last Zone Conference for Elder and Sister Kjar, who will return home to Centerville Utah in two weeks.  They were asked to bear their testimonies during the ZC lunch break.  Elder Kjar served here as a young missionary.

In the Sunday School missionary class we talked about the Holy Ghost.  The teacher used a couple quotes that I really like.

"Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from Heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees" (President Russell M Nelson).

"When a man has the manifestation from the Holy Ghost, it leaves an indelible impression on his soul, one that is not easily erased.  It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force.  A manifestation of an angel, or even of the Son of God himself, would impress the eye and mind, and eventually become dimmed, but the impressions of the Holy Ghost sink deeper into the soul and are more difficult to erase" (President Joseph Fielding Smith).


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