The Messenger
Canada Montreal Mission Mission Canadienne de Montréal Misión Canadiense de Montreal	December, 2003 Mission Office: 514-731-0612

Good Tidings of Great Joy

At the birth of Christ angels announced, “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” As missionaries, we are still announcing the glad tidings, the “good news” that Jesus Christ was born to redeem the world. In Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec we truly preach the gospel to the whole world, stocking the Book of Mormon in almost sixty languages in our mission office.

With our thoughts on home this holiday season, how grateful we are to be at home in the loving care of our Heavenly Father, even when we are far from the homes of our earthly families. What a privilege to be in the full-time service of our Lord Jesus Christ as the world celebrates His birth. Because He lived, even when we face loss, disappointment, failure, and sin, we can rejoice in the good news the angels proclaimed to both the humble and the wise.

We celebrate the approval of Chinese-speaking missionaries to be assigned to our mission in future months. We celebrate the members here whose lives have been touched with the spirit of missionary work. We celebrate our families who support us, and whom we love so much. We celebrate the changes we see in our own lives as we feel the spirit, participate in the Lord’s work, and testify that Jesus Christ has established His Church on the earth again, as He promised He would. We celebrate the nearly 300 people who have entered the waters of baptism during 2003. Merry Christmas! President & Sister Ulrich

Notes from the Field

We first met [L] in a severe state of depression.... She hadn’t eaten food for a week and often thought of suicide. We offered her what words of comfort we could, sang a hymn, and left wishing we could do something to help her. The next time we passed by we... presented her with the Book of Mormon. She accepted and began reading immediately.... That sacred book has changed her life. She has begun eating again, she now greets us with a big smile, and looks forward all day to our visits where we can discuss what she has read. I have never seen such a turnaround. She came to church last week, and loved it. In our last meeting with her she testified to us and the member we brought of the Book of Mormon by saying, “The Book of Mormon is the only source of peace I have in my life.” Elder Hyde

[On the way to the temple] took us right through my first area, and as we were traveling down one street, out of nowhere the thought popped in my mind to see if [B] was home. He was my first baptism, and he was even my first appointment on my first night in the field. Unfortunately he’s been less active for a long time now. It was a weird thought because I heard he’s never at home. I quickly parked the car in a shopping center and then ran across the street and started walking to his apartment. As I was walking a man passed by and I suddenly realized it was him! He was surprised and happy to see me. As I was talking to him, I realized how much love I still felt for him. I think it may have helped him out too. Elder Diehl

When we were able to introduce [T and V] to some of our friends from the ward, the Spirit in their home really was incredibly strong. They also did a great job getting to know our investigators. Elder Hong and I didn’t have to say anything for the first ten minutes, everything went so smoothly. Members really can be the last push that some people might need. It’s the key to loving people into the Church. A host family is very important. The people do need friends in the ward, there is no doubt. Elder Radnotti

I was able to talk in Spanish to this wonderful lady. She was very excited that I was trying to speak Spanish in my broken form. She was so excited and I was able to teach her about eternal families, prophets, and the temples. It is just good to remember that just as long as I do my best the people will be grateful. Sister Velez

From New Members

Je vois très clairement le plan que Dieu avait pour ma vie, dans mon retour auprès de Lui dans son royaume éternel. Cette conviction est encrée dans mon coeur et dans mon être profound. Je ressens depuis mon baptême une grande paix en moi, une joie immense, une confiance assurée que je suis entre ses mains. Je n’ai plus peur.... Je ne vois pas les choses de la même façon au’auparavant et je crois avec certitude depuis le lendemain de ma confirmation, que Joseph Smith est réellement un prophète de Deu sur la terre. Oui je crois en toutes ces choses. Violaine Desrosiers, Longueuil

Patisseries and Poutines

Pats to Elders Diehl and Weigel for super help at their local library and recognition by the mayor at its groundbreaking. Post humus pouts to Elder Warr for never getting a pat or pout, and for many magical missionary moments. Pouts to Elder Howes for offering mass to a lady while tracting. Pats and pouts to Elder Paredes for door dancing, bird chasing, pants ripping, and everything-under-the-sun remembering. Pats to Elder Diehl for following promptings to find a less-active member who remembered and loved him. Pouts to Elders Chevrier and Williams for thinking they’d find missionaries in a nude bar. Pouts to Elders Anderson and Fullmer for finding their missing investigator at the local Kingdom Hall. Pouts to Elders Rasmussen and Davis for cutting their frozen beef with a screwdriver. Pats to Elder Pratt for a testimony that touched many hearts as mentioned in president’s letters. Pats to Elder Unwin for enthusiastic music leading. Pats to Elder Jean-Louis for good parting. Pouts to Elder Wonderful-French-Holt for telling the police his voiture was violée instead of volée. Poor car. Pats to Elder Black for good follow-up on his Belfast club contacting. Pouts to Elder Scott for dirty dreams. Pats to Elder and Sister Graham for good English. Pats to Sisters Sexton and Geddes for being single. Pats to Elders Poole and Bileen for going eternal. Pouts to Elder Rotolo for sliding off the road and needing to be towed out – twice in one night. Pouts to Elder Markham for being the worst Mormon in the history of the world. Pats to all the new missionaries from the last transfer for waiting patiently at the airport when no one showed up to pick them up.

Merci to Parents:

Many many thanks to all the parents who sent contributions, packages, and good wishes to the mission for Christmas. Thanks to your generosity no missionary was without gifts to open on Christmas.

October/November Baptisms

Hochelaga: Jean Anachoret, Simon Antoine, Jean Bernard, Marcelle Cassion, Jean Leblanc; LaVal: Stanbouly Exantus; Longueuil: Reine Desrosiers; Mt St Hilaire: John Calderon Artunocaga, Royman Marolanda Escobar, Christina Hoyos Silva; MonteRey: Hechevarria Bustamante, Jose Ramos Merlos; Sherbrooke: Gerardo Lubaki; St Jovite: Adam Poirier; Ville Marie: Chantal Dubois, Mensah Hilaire, Marjoire Pierre-Louis; Zarahemla: Juana Barriga Cabello, Carlos Batres Recinos, Hilda Castillo Cruz, Ima-Lizeth Ceballos Alonzo, Samuel Chavez Licon, Ana Lobo, Salvador Miranda, Greta Moran Castillo, Issac Moran Castillo, Alvaro Moran Flores; Cornwall: Raymond Leroux, Kenneth Oswald; Greenfield Park: Bryan Quinn; LaSalle: Cassiea Sim, Rouzanna Grigorian; Montreal: Junmei Zhang; St. Laurent: Gang Chow; Yanxia Zhang, Xinchun Zhao; Chapel Hill: Allan Dove; Gatineau: Francois Siemin, Gilles Siemin; Drummondville: Jean Hubert, Steve Morin; Rimouski: Shirley Woods; Quebec: Maximilien Kiloko

Welcome to...

New Office Staff:

Elder Bennett, Assistant

New Zone Leaders:

Elder DeVincent (Campagne)

Elder Holt (Capital)

Elder Johnson (Mont Royal)

Elder Jolliffe (Bayshore)

Elder Roeder (Zarahemla)

New District Leaders:

Elder Anderson

Elder Duke

Elder Todd Hansen

Elder Keyes

Elder Knowles

Elder Mason

Elder Miramontes

Elder Payne

Elder Woodman

New Missionaries and Trainers:

Sister Bytheway (Utah) w/ Sr. White (Hochelaga 2)

Sister Holm (West Jordan, UT) w/ Sr. Virkamaki (St. Hubert)

Sister Rodriguez (Mexico) w/ Sr. Barnard (El Tesoro)

Elder Arguello (Paraguay) w/ Elder Durand (Cap - Madeline)

Elder Teubner (Germany) w/ Elder Rasmussen (La Prairie)

Elder Wilson (Colorado) w/ Elder Duke (Parc Jarry)

Elder Laval (France) w/ Elder Libutti (Terrebonne)

Elder Baret (Belgium) w/ Elder Keyes (Plateau Montréal)

Quick Meal Ideas

Super quick tuna casserole: Cook 2-3 cups of noodles by package directions. Drain, then return to pan. Add a can of tuna and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Stir over low heat until warmed through. If desired, top with some parmesan cheese.

Super quick pasta or rice and sauce: Cook rice, minute rice, or pasta by package directions. Heat a can of chunky soup and pour over rice or pasta.

Chicken marsala: Brown two or more chicken breasts in a little butter or oil in pan with a lid. Turn to lowest heat and pour in a jar of spaghetti sauce. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (not pink). Top chicken with sliced mozarella cheese at the end and let it melt. While that cooks, cook some spaghetti noodles by package directions to eat with it.

Crock pot Spanish rice: Put in crock pot: 2 lbs. ground beef (brown in frying pan first); 2 medium onions, chopped; 2 green peppers, chopped; 1 liter can of tomatoes; small can of tomato sauce; 1 cup water; 2 ½ tsp. chili powder; 2 tsp. salt; 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce; 1 ½ cups uncooked rice. Cook on low 7-10 hours or on high 6 hours.