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

All the Way Home

Everyone wants to be home for the holidays -- where we feel loved, where we belong, where the world feels right and good. Missionaries sacrifice a few holidays at home with a single goal in mind – to bring more of Heavenly Father’s children home to Him, for the holidays, and for always.

Last year we set a goal as a mission to bring souls to Christ at twice the rate we have done in recent years. We are close to accomplishing our goal. We are working so hard, focusing all of our efforts on doing the work the Lord has assigned us. With only a short time left, the goal is in reach. We are praying that every team of missionaries will see a baptism in their area by the end of the year. Many wonderful people are committed for baptism at this time, and we want to bring all of them all the way home.

As a mission we commit to talk to more people, reach more families, teach with more spirit, commit with more clarity, involve more members, and plan more for retention. We will pray to feel God’s love for the people we teach, and for ourselves. As we sacrifice our chance to be with our families this holiday, we rejoice in the chance to be with brothers and sisters we didn’t even know we had before we came on a mission, and we recommit ourselves to the Savior who makes it possible for them and for us to make it home again. What a blessing to be a missionary at this holy time of year!

-- President and Sister Ulrich

P.S. See article on us singing at the Expos game at on the last page of the November Ensign!

Notes from the Field

We went to the cemetery to offer a prayer... As we prayed my companion and I felt the spirit so strong telling us that we have help here, that the ancestors of the people in this area are working on our side. It was one of the times where I have felt the spirit the strongest on my mission. Elder Knowles

A cool spiritual experience this week was when Elder Campbell and I got up early one morning and went to the top of Mount Jacob (the highest point in Jonquière) and set goals for the transfer, prayed, and dedicated ourselves to the Lord. It was cool to be able to feel the spirit as we did that. This area has a lot of potential and we expect to see some good results soon. Elder Markham

(After a difficult experience on the phone with a disillusioned investigator) That hurt a lot. I was upset, and it was getting worse. I felt like a failure and expressed my feelings to my companion. He looked at me and said, “You failed with glory!” A smile spread across my face, and I was asleep in record time. Elder Dietz spoke for God and pulled me out of the shame cycle that I was getting into. It is tough being a missionary, but when the light goes on inside it is great! Elder Shannon

(On a door) As we talked I felt like she didn’t need a first, but to know how much God loved her and that He knew her. As I testified of that to her, I felt a piece of that love that God has for her as the Spirit was there. We invited her to church and passed her off to the English elders, which was hard. I saw her a week later at General Conference. She said, “I had no idea any of this existed. I didn’t even know there was a Church of Jesus Christ. I love it. I feel no pressure here, only the spirit.” Elder West

The work is moving forth, and I’m excited for the future. Elder Allred

From New Members

Aussitot qu’Elder Peterson et Elder King se sont présentés chez moi, j’ai immédiatement sû que c’était Dieu qui les envoyait, et j’ai sû par le Saint Esprit que ce qu’ils disaient était vrai. C’est depuis ce temps là que je me fais un festin de la parole du Seigneur.... Je me suis fait baptiser afin de devenir membre de la seule Vraie Église sur la terre, dans laquelle je veux cheminer spirituellement et consacrer ma vie. J’ai déjà reçu beacoup de bénédictions depuis que les missionnaires sont entrés dans ma vie, et j’ai l’intention de persévérer jusqu’à la fin. La lumière du Christ habite mon coeur et me fortifie dan ma foi de jour en jour. Robert Truchon, Branche de Chicoutimi

Je suis très heureuse de m’être fait baptisée dans L’Église de Jésus Christ. Dès que j’ai commencé à lire le Livre de Mormon, j’ai été certaine que c’était la vérité que je cherchais.... J’aime aller à l’Église, ça m’aide à comprendre et ça me fait rencontrer des gens qui pensent comme moi. Lorsque je prie, je ressens vraiment qu’une oreille m’écoute. Francine Delanges

Patisseries and Poutines

Pouts to Elder Diehl for ripping his pants at a wedding. Pats to Elder Weigel for sewing up his companion’s pants. Pouts to Elder Catalan for losing his new missionary on the bus. Pats to Elders Holt and Bergen for spreading family love. Pats to Sister and Elder Graham for fabulous English classes. Pats to Elder Barker for sharing his Pez. Pats to Sister Ballew for determined “finding all the time.” Pats to all the Saguenay elders for a noble effort to strengthen the families of Chicoutimi. Pats to Elders Baadsgaard and piano-Olson for surviving a bedbug invasion. Pouts to Elder Payne for his third broken nose in the field. Pouts to Elder Dalebout for being on crutches again, and again, and again. Pouts to Elder Knowles for moving a mountain (of his junk). Pats and pouts to Elder Hardle for sucking up another apartment’s keys in the carwash vacuum, then digging them out of the muck with his bare hands. Pouts to Elder Argyle for wrecking his brand new car with his brand new missionary on his brand new first day as a senior. Pouts to Elder Poole for getting into a gunfight with Elder Myler in Sunday School. And finally, superpats to the Superheroes of Olympic Zone for chasing down drug thugs and DVD thiefs in full superhero costume on the streets of Montreal (I want pictures): Elder Libutti makes a BIG pumpkin, Elder Unwin a great Santa, Elder Shaw an impressive Robin, Elder Rasmussen a right-choosing Superman, Elder Clarke a speedy Popeye, Elder Scott a scary clown, and Elder Catherine a perfect Harry Potter.)

Announcement

Send stories about successful involvement of members in missionary work in president’s letters or by email (parents) to wendyurlich@videotron.ca.

August/ September Baptisms

Hochelaga: Maria Cherrison, Lila Icard, James Verin, Blondine Chatue, Alex Vallee-Carrier; LaVal: Dominique Balthazar, Jacqueline Cousineau, Suzanne Cousineau, Micheline Fils-Aime, Rance Paquette, France Paquette, Sylvian Tremblay; Longueuil: N’Da Koffi, Martin Mayrand;

Mascouche: Maire Delangis; MonteRey: Olivia Ayaguica Zacatelco, Keren Barahona Barrientos, Nolvia Barrientos Amador, Lidia Lizama Garcia, Dorian Ojeda Ayagulca, Michel Ojeda Ayagulca, Miriam Ordaz, David Vazquez Aguilar, David Vazquez Lizama; Sherbrooke: Anita Mendoza, Mariette Grivegnee; Ville Marie: Marie-Virtha Beauge, Elise Campeau; Zarahemla: Victor Bionda, Rafael Escobedo, Wolfgang Kobinger, Ricardo Perez; Cornwall: Megham Vogel; Greenfield Park: Quoc Tran Tuan, George Delaportas, Samuel Obi; Kirkland: Marion Wilson; LaSalle: Tabia Barnes; Montreal: Chantal Lathuliere, Ma Hui, Jing Wang; St. Laurent: Francelia Brown, Gayleen Browne; St. Lazare: Irene Krebs; Champlain: Marie Dieudonne, Philippe Dieudonne; Chapel Hill: Emma Kiserema, Andrew Kiserema, Diana Kiserema, Eunice Kiserema, Malthius Kiserema, Simon Kiserima; Fallowfield: Carol-Ann Walker

Gatineau: Joel Guevremont; Rideau: Victor Valiente Oviedo; Abitibi: Joselyne Leduc; Chicoutimi: Joseph Truchon; Drummondville: Chantal Pelletier-Mirchaud; Quebec: Marie Boisjoli, Fitina Salamba

Welcome to...

New Office Staff: Elders Chevrier and Cureton, Assistants; Elder Fairbanks, Office; Elder and Sister Salmon, Office

New Zone Leaders: Elder Hart (Capital West), Elder Ward (Dorval), Elder Unwin (Concordia), Elder Libutti (LeFleuve), Elder Uber (Temple), Elder Stanford (Citadelle)

New District Leaders: Elders Cahoon, D. Donaldson, Ferrin, Meurisse, Mora, Pruett, Rasmussen, Shannon, Sillito

New Missionaries and Trainers

Sister Alfaro (temporary) with Sr. Christensen, Hampstead

Sister Duncan (Scotland) with Sister Virkamaki, St. Hubert

Sister Rivas (temporary) with Sister Johnson, Abunduncia

Elder Ahlstrom (Tooele) with Elder Short, Spanish, Cholula

Elder Bean (California) with Elder Argyle, St. Hilaire

Elder Bishop (Farmington) with Elder Bennett, Boucherville

Elder Fly (St. George) with Elder Clayton, Grantham

Elder Johnson (Colorado) with Elder Call, Spanish, Los Prados

Elder Galloway (Springville) with Elder Jolliffe, Orleans

Elder McLean (Washington) with Elder Roeider, Valleyfield

Elder Shipley (St. George) with Elder Rotolo, St. Jovite

Elder Smith (British Columbia) with Elder Campbell, Spanish, St. Hyacinthe

Especially for Parents

With Christmas coming, please keep gifts small and practical. Missionaries often get overloaded with sweets, don’t have a lot of room, and end up giving away a lot of what they get. Keep gifts inexpensive -- international packages over $40 US will be charged duty, usually at the rate of about 1/3 the value of the package – paid by the missionary from personal funds. Appreciated are: protein bars, film, toiletries, money for new glasses, contacts, or a dental checkup, warm gloves or socks, thermal underwear, Church pictures to share, family pictures, small picture frames, shoelaces, spiritual thoughts, calendars, small planners, clothing (check to see what they need). About 1/3 of the missionaries will transfer Dec.16, so send boxes early to their apartment only if small enough to carry in their luggage on the bus. Or send to the mission office, to arrive no later than Dec. 19 if you want them to get to your missionary by Christmas.

We have a number of international and other missionaries who do not generally receive Christmas packages from home. If you would like to help make their Christmas a little brighter, let Sr. Ulrich know at wendyulrich@videotron.ca. Packages marked “To Elder Santa” or “To Sister Santa” or money for us to purchase Christmas gifts here are both welcome. We anticipate needing help for about 20 missionaries. Thank you!

We also always appreciate help with our triple combination fund for newly baptized members.