We enjoyed being tour guides for a day to 4 French students during their world tour to promote interfaith initiatives.  They’re on their 5th month of a 7-month tour, making stops in 20 countries.

Ontario Temple

Bénédicte showing us where they’ve been.

Lunch break in Brampton at the Mandarin

Etobicoke LDS Meetinghouse

Their perception of  “Mormons” were varied and interesting.  They thought our religion was similar to the Amish or Quaker religion (most likely from our pioneer heritage) and were surprised to discover there was such a thing as a “rich Mormon” (i.e. during Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign).  They asked if all members were encouraged to “make a trek” to Salt Lake City.  Lucky gave a great answer saying, “All members are currently encouraged to “make a trek” to a nearby temple.  We were puzzled by their question, “Does the color ‘red’ have a special significance or symbol in your religion?”  On further inquiry we discovered that during a previous tour of a Mormon Visitors Center (in Mexico) they were shown a wall of pictures of our leaders (Prophets and Apostles) and had noticed most of them were wearing red ties.  Lucky was also wearing a red tie that day and I was wearing a red jacket.  🙂

Sami, Eloi, Bénédicte, Bettina

Sami (muslim), Eloi (catholic), Béné (atheist), and Bettina (jewish).  An awesome group of students promoting interfaith unity!

Missionary Zone Conferences are a wonderful time to re-united with friends!

In December we had a visit from “the ghost of transfers past”.

In November we had wonderful training from Elder Kevin W. Pearson.

Midland is where Jason served in 2006.  We had fun visiting the Midland branch and was invited to a Thanksgiving dinner by Janice, who is one of Jason’s converts.  She is still active in the branch and still feeds the Missionaries every Friday!

Jason 2006

Missionaries with Janice & Husband – October, 2006

Thanksgiving dinner with Janice.

Helping Sister Spackman with her first day as Primary president in the Midland branch.  There were a total of 4 primary students in the entire primary (Jr. & Senior).   We enjoyed visiting  The Martyrs’ Shrine (a Roman Catholic church). And Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.

It was great having Jason & Sarah’s family come visit us.  We did some site seeing together in Palmyra!

Smith Family Farm & Hill Cumorah

The Sacred Grove

The Grandin Press

Niagara Falls

More Fun Together!

Goodbye for a few more months!

We enjoyed participating in Burlington’s inter-faith multicultural festival.  A favorite part of our mission is when we get opportunities like this to build relations with people of different faiths and beliefs!

Mormon Newsroom Article

We always enjoy gathering with other senior missionaries serving in the Toronto Canada mission.  We had a great training conference weekend that included a wonderful temple session, then dinner and an evening training session at the mission home.

On Saturday we continued training with President and Sister Shields, then enjoyed a field-trip to Black Creek where John Taylor, Mary, Mercy, and Joseph Fielding were baptized in 1836.

Sister and President Shields

At Black Creek with Brother Pallin

Bro. Pallin & President Shields

July is a great month to celebrate church & family history!  We spent a wonderful weekend with Richard E. Turley Jr. (managing director of Church Public Affairs, also previous director of the Church’s Historical and Family History Departments)!  It’s a wonderful experience meeting a person with such diverse talent and knowledge.   With any subject mentioned, he could relate it to either a historical account, or his own personal experience in some far-off land!  Incredible!  Lucky and I especially enjoyed sight-seeing with him on Saturday.

Churchville Cemetery Historic Marker Dedication

Black Creek, baptism location of John Taylor, Mary & Mercy Fielding and others.

CN Tower lunch

It was a full-scheduled weekend for Brother Turley with a Church History Conference presentation, a sight-seeing trip, a Church History marker dedication (all on Saturday).  On Sunday: a two-hour Public Affairs training, a sacrament meeting talk, a 2-hour YSA Ward Q&A session, and an evening Multi-Stake Fireside presentation!  Wow!
Mormon Newsroom Article

The Churchville Cemetery marker dedication was of great personal interest to me, since I have recently found family ancestor names who are buried in this cemetery!  I’ve found headstones, Methodist baptism records, and census records for several families (Hall and Pointer families)!  So far,  twenty-five + names to take to the temple! Fun & exciting for me!  I never would have guessed I had relatives in Toronto Canada!

Churchville Cemetery

Ancestor’s Methodist Baptism Location

Churchville Village Streets

Churchville Village

After six months of living in Canada, we can truly say, “We’re livin’ the dream!”

Technology is great!  We facetime/marco polo our kids and grandkids often and feel connected to all of them!

Lucky enjoys coordinating the Canadian Mormon Newsroom articles and working with Public Affairs Directors throughout Canada to post community/church related events that are happening in their areas.  Father’s Day was a special treat to have Lucky included in the Mormon Newsroom Article.

We enjoyed celebrating National Aboriginal day (June 21) in downtown Brampton.

Our favorite mission experiences are working with the young missionaries, and getting to know the families they are teaching.  We to love see prayers answered, lives change, and testimonies grow!  We’ve come to love Joan, Adan, and Aljo!  Newly re-activated (Adan) and newly converted (Joan & Aljo).

Joan Baptized July 1 (Canada Day)

Eternal Marriage Lesson

We love participating with the missionaries in public affairs events and having them over for dinner!

Hamilton “Love my Hood” Event.

Mountain Man Breakfast for Dinner

We enjoyed celebrating Canada Day (July 1st) with the Canada Toronto Mission senior missionaries (along with a few young Elder missionaries)!

We enjoy gathering with the other senior missionaries in the Canada Toronto Mission.  We’ve had some fun activities with them!

Dinner at the mission home with President Shields.

Dinner at the mission home.

Dinner with senior missionaries at the mission home.

Dinner at the Mission Home – March, 2017

Jason at the same mission home 10 years earlier – April, 2007!

Tour of Mennonite Community – April, 2017

St. Jacob’s Farmers’ Market – April, 2017

Service Project at the at the John Freeman Walls Historic Site – May, 2017
Mormon Newsroom Article

Canada’s National Prayer Breakfast was an inspiring event to participate in.  The keynote speaker was His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, who is the formal representative of Queen Elizabeth in Canada.  He is a good, humble man.  He quoted the queen saying, “I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning. I know the only way to live in my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best and put my trust in God. ”

Mormon Newsroom Article