Last Zone Conference, Treasures from Walmart, Another great week...

Hey everyone! Another great week here! This week we had zone conference over zoom. It was my last zone conference so I gave my closing testimony. It was sad, but it was really cool to think back on my mission and all the things I have learned. My mission has changed my life. 

This week we recieved multiple referrals from people going on the church website and requesting to meet with us. That hasn't happened to me very often so it was really cool that it happened a few times this week! We have been talking a lot with the other missionaries in our zone and seeing how everyone is doing, we've also been doing FHE activities over messenger every Monday night and it's been super fun! Everyone in the zone is doing well and God's work is moving forward. 

I wanted to share a scripture and a quote I really liked this week. The quote is from Terrence M. Vinson. He said "Peace is not the absence of trouble, it is the presence of Christ". The scripture is 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - go check it out! It's a good one! 

For pday today, Elder Scott and I did all of our shopping and the other things we needed to, then we went back to Walmart for fun. It's the only place that's open right now haha. We explored around for about an hour and ended up leaving with a half pound reeses peanut butter cup and a pack of 40 temporary tattoos. Life is good. Have a great week! Love you! 

Elder Tait 

Detained for a minute or two, Crazy transfers...

Hello everyone! This week we have been super busy with a bunch of different things! We had our zone conference last Wednesday over zoom. It went really well even though we couldn't be together in person. The next day we spent a long time cleaning out the apartment of an area that closed down in our zone. To clean the apartment we had to go from our house in Quebec across the river over to Ontario. We went there and everything was fine, but on the way back we got stopped by the police. They are stopping everyone that tries to enter Quebec and questioning them about what they are doing. They did not like our explanation, but after a few minutes of them talking to us we finally got back into Quebec and got home. We also spent a ton of time this week working on travel plans for transfers. This is going to be the craziest transfer ever in this mission. Almost every companionship in the mission is being changed, so creating the travel plans was a long process but we did it! Sadly my companion Elder Thacker will be getting transferred. General Conference was definitely the highlight of this week! A couple of my favorite quotes were "The Lord loves effort" and "we didn't come this far, just to come this far."
The restoration restored the truth that God still works in this world. Miracles are still happening wherever there is faith! Have a great week!

Love you!

Elder Tait

We are limited, but God is not...

Hey everyone! Things are going well for us up here! This week Elder Thacker and I got a new companion named Elder Sorenson. He was training an elder from Germany who had to go back home, so we'll be in a trio until transfers next week. The work is still progressing forward! We had a really good week as a zone and it's awesome to see the miracles that are continuing to happen. Right now we are a little limited, but God is not. We're putting in the effort we can and he is making up the difference. I'm working on Swahili in language study and it's coming along, it's such a cool language! I've been studying a lot about virtue this transfer. Before, I never realized what exactly it means and why it's so important. Virtue is a prerequisite to having the spirit with us, so if we want to be in tune with the Holy Ghost we need to actively be thinking virtuous thoughts. Sometimes it's hard because letting your mind wander is easy and natural and so a lot of times that's what we want to do. As I've been studying I realized that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about changing our desires, not changing our will power. Our desires have a big impact on our actions, so we need to make what we want the same as what God wants. It's a hard process but we can do it! There's a scripture in the Bible I really like. It says "anything is possible to those that believe". (Mark 9:23)
I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and it has been restored in its fulness. Have a great week everyone! Love you!

Elder Tait

We are limited, but God is not...

Hey everyone! Things are going well for us up here! This week Elder Thacker and I got a new companion named Elder Sorenson. He was training an elder from Germany who had to go back home, so we'll be in a trio until transfers next week. The work is still progressing forward! We had a really good week as a zone and it's awesome to see the miracles that are continuing to happen. Right now we are a little limited, but God is not. We're putting in the effort we can and he is making up the difference. I'm working on Swahili in language study and it's coming along, it's such a cool language! I've been studying a lot about virtue this transfer. Before, I never realized what exactly it means and why it's so important. Virtue is a prerequisite to having the spirit with us, so if we want to be in tune with the Holy Ghost we need to actively be thinking virtuous thoughts. Sometimes it's hard because letting your mind wander is easy and natural and so a lot of times that's what we want to do. As I've been studying I realized that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about changing our desires, not changing our will power. Our desires have a big impact on our actions, so we need to make what we want the same as what God wants. It's a hard process but we can do it! There's a scripture in the Bible I really like. It says "anything is possible to those that believe". (Mark 9:23)
I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and it has been restored in its fulness. Have a great week everyone! Love you!

Elder Tait

Quarantine Exchanges...

Hi everyone! This week was fun we did a couple exchanges (or at least we tried) over technology so that was an adventure.
I've been grinding in language study trying to learn Swahili and this week we taught a guy we found over Facebook using a mix between French, English and Swahili. He speaks a little French and English and we speak a little Swahili. Between all the languages we explained the Book of Mormon and showed him a video. He loved it! No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing! I love you all! Follow the prophet and have a great week!

Quarantine & This fun virus, Loved our a Sunday Meeting, Change of Plans...

Well this week has been the craziest of my mission for sure. I don't know if you all have heard, but there's a little virus going around. Haha just kidding I'm sure you've all heard! Starting today we are quarantined in our apartments. I'm part of the group being sent home after 21 months so I'll be home in May. It's really sad, but I know that everything happens for a reason.
Other than that this week has been awesome! We got go to Montreal for exchanges with the APs and it was super fun like always. There are so many people to talk to around Montreal! Since we've been back in our area the work has been progressing and we met some super cool people that we're hoping to meet with using technology the next couple of weeks.
To take the sacrament on Sunday we met at the Chapel with the sisters and our ward mission leader and his wife and also did a little testimony meeting. It was an amazing experience! It was really spiritual and I definitely will remember that day.
I know that God answers prayers. It's so amazing that the Spirit speaks to each of us individually. God knows you and loves you. I love you all! Make it a great week!

Love,

Elder Tait

Exceedingly Astinished ...

Hey everyone! This week was great! We visited all the districts in the zone this week for district council and talked about using the tools we have been given to the fullest. We have so many tools we can use as missionaries to bless the lives of others, we just need to use them! We had a super good lesson this week with a lady we are teaching named Paula. She has so many good questions and she is willing to do the work to find answers. We had a member with us at the lesson and he and his wife were able to give Paula a ride to church on Sunday! The members were super excited to meet her and it seemed like she had a good experience. We have been doing a lot of finding and we've met tons of cool people! We send out tons of referrals to the other teams around the city and it's awesome to see them teach these people and help them progress! 

On Saturday night we were supposed to have a lesson with a family we're trying to teach. We showed up to their apartment and they were actually having a birthday party for the wife. They let us come in and join the party and it was sweet! We got to meet a bunch of their friends and some of them are interested in meeting up again. They gave us jellof rice and some other Nigerian food. It was a fun party! 

On Sunday night we were walking around downtown talking to people, just a normal night. We were walking down the sidewalk and there was a guy walking about 200 yards in front of us. All of a sudden he bent over to tie his shoe - at least that's what I thought. As we got closer we realized he wasn't tying his shoe. The man was pooping. For the second week in a row we were exceedingly astonished! I don't know why, but we've been seeing some weird things the last couple weeks. It provides some funny times though, haha! 

Yesterday we had a cool experience, we went to meet this lady at Tim Hortons and give her a Bible. She didn't end up coming, but as we were walking back to the car we were able to talk with this guy who has been trying to get a Bible, so we were able to give it to him! It's super cool to see how God works everything out for the good of his children! And it's so great to be a part of it! Have a great week! Love you! 

Elder Tait