It's Super Effective!

 [Title refers to this Pokemon meme.]

大家好！Hey Everyone!

What a fantastic week this has been! It’s really amazing to have some incredible weeks like this in the mission, especially in contrast to the kind of weeks I was having about 6 months ago! I’m so grateful for these experiences that the Lord is giving me, both bitter and sweet.

Quick update on the usual friends:

• We’ve been sending various resources to Michael over text, which has been going fairly well. Before we met with him on Sunday we texted him some small passages about the principle of tithing, and he was really anxious about it, due to a ton of financial stress he’s under. We were nervous going into our lesson with him on Sunday, but to our great surprise he showed up in a white shirt and tie and told us that he had no clue how God would take care of him and his family, but that he’s committing to pay tithing regardless!! We’re super excited for his baptism next week!
• Sam wasn’t able to make it to church, but we met with him on Saturday and explained some other tough commandments including the Word of Wisdom, and he also surprised us by telling us that he was “eager to follow” God’s commandments!! We’re so lucky to see his faith in action!

We got to participate in a funny youth activity, a Pokémon Go competition. As one might expect, it was mostly all youth from the Mandarin ward with about 5 kids from other wards. We got to wander around University campus a bit, say hello to some FSY counselors, and got a few cards to take home. I’d say it was a pretty good “finding” activity for the missionaries.

While reading in the Book of Mormon this week I stumbled into an odd symbol. During a great war between tribes, the Nephite tribe was trying to find a way to retrieve some prisoners. The method they chose was having a Lamanite dissenter bring wine to the overzealous enemy guards who, perhaps as planned, fell right asleep after a good bacchanal. This let the prisoners escape easily, and the city was then taken back by the Nephites without any injury on either side. What I noticed during this read was how the wine was the essential element that saved the Nephites in bondage. Like these Nephites, we also are saved by the wine so to speak. The emblems of the sacrament are a continued tradition of the bread and wine that, as Christ has said, represents His body and blood. And so it is His wine that saves us from bondage; it is his blood that redeems us from the bonds of death and sin and lets us return home to the family of God.

It’s getting hotter for most of us around the globe, so be sure to stay hydrated! Keep soaking up the words of the Living Water as well! That is by far the most refreshing water when the heat comes.

Love you all! 爱你们！

-熊长老


照片

Poke-and-mon

Today's bbq and view

Impromptu karaoke by the Ukranian Elders

Stampede

July 8, 2024

大家好！Hey Everyone!

The Calgary Stampede has ridden into town! In a wild turn of events, we’re experiencing the biggest celebration I’ve seen in Calgary outside of Christmas. There are flags everywhere and tons of people wearing cheap cowboy hats and boots, which is pretty cool. There are also a ton of meetings canceled and church events with few people attending which is less cool, but either way the whole city is all riled up right now.

Quick hoedown rundown of the two friends we’re teaching:

Michael is now ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! He texted us one day and asked if we could talk about it, so we met him at the church on Wednesday night and after asking some good questions he said he would like to be baptized!!! He’s on date now for the 21st, We’ve been praying and fasting for him to keep that commitment. He’s been doing super well, he just quit coffee this week!

Sam has not yet been taught the Word of Wisdom on account of him being tipsy the night we planned to call him and tell him about it, so we talked with him and have changed his date to August 11th—his son arrives a little before that, so perhaps that will be better as well. We’re praying that he also stays faithful for the next month.

This week involved a lot more service than proselyting. We helped a lady cut down some branches on her pine trees for two days. We also helped flip pancakes for the Calgary Stampede! There are several pancake breakfasts around Calgary so we got to help out with one! It was very hot, very fun.

A kid in our ward just got his mission call! He's going to the Thailand East mission!! The whole district was thrilled!

While reading Alma 37:16 in the Book of Mormon this week, I had a cool epiphany about the principle of “Ask and ye shall receive.” Alma adds an aside when speaking about the commandments ("for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them") the word appeal is very cool—when we see something as appealing, we are moved to appeal for it; when we know something is pleasant, we are moved to plead for it in some form. God is the giver of all good gifts, so he knows which gifts are most pleasant and appealing, or which gifts will best answer our pleas and our appeals, even when they aren’t what we anticipate. To ask also requires us to act as well! If I wanted a pair of appealing shoes, I would have to act in order to gain some money with which I could appeal for the shoes. If we ask for God to bless us, we must act in faith by obeying a command by which he can bless us. This week I’d invite y’all to identify something you would like and ask God to help you achieve it. As you ask him with the faith to take good action, He can give you great gifts that align with both His and your will.

Have a great week, stay in the saddle, and enjoy the ride

Love you all! 爱你们！

-熊长老



照片
 

Pancakes

Elder McAfee at the tree service...almost

Yellow skies and thunder!

\

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Canaday eh!

July 1, 2024

大家好！Hey Everyone!

Happy Canada Day, eh! It’s Canada’s birthday today, and boy are the celebrations going crazy! I’ve seen approximately two people wearing some good ol’ Canada garb. . . . and yeah that’s about it! How neat is that, eh?

Quick rundown of recent friends we’re teaching:

• Sam’s got some crazy enthusiasm about the gospel!! We’ve taught him a bit about the Plan of Salvation, and he already knows a bunch of stuff! We just gotta make sure he doesn’t have any Word of Wisdom problems and then he’s good.
• I had my first lesson with a friend named Michael yesterday. Sam joined in and acted like a member participating. Last transfer he [Michael] showed up to the in-person ESL class and then told the members he actually just wanted to learn about God (Wha!?), and yesterday we found out the reason why, as he told us a bunch of sad stuff about recently losing a 10-year business and also a marriage. Ouch. : (   We brought up baptism and he said he still has some doubts he wants God to help him with. He’s afraid of committing to one more thing that goes downhill.

We met our new mission president this week, President Barth Vader. He’s a bit older than the last pres, but he seems cool.

Our ward had a barbecue picnic at a noice park this week! Sam brought his friend Stella who also came to church! We gave her a Book of Mormon and we’re hoping to start teaching her. Elder Scoresby and I also got to do some goofy-ah wheelbarrow games with the kids and their parents.

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about what it means to be a pacemaker peacemaker. I read a slice of wisdom from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf that said “Conflict is inevitable; contention is a choice.” So lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between conflict and contention, and how to keep the peace and stand for the right at the same time. D&C 121:43 has a great explanation of this, as well as 2 Nephi 1:27. Both verses refer to times when the spirit moves people to “reprove with sharpness,” as well as a greater love that is the motive behind it. It seems that often the “kind” thing to do is not always the most loving thing to do. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of this as everything He did and said was out of love, yet many still chose to take offense and oppose the Prince of Peace. This week I’d invite all of you to think of one thing you can do to establish greater peace—whether between you and someone else, or between you and God. As we choose higher and holier methods of love, we will find peace even among conflict.

Have a great week and don’t forget to celebrate Canada Day (more than the Canadians). Now take off!

Love you all! 爱你们！

-熊长老

 

照片

Ward Barbecue

 

 

[view from the bridge near the barbecue]

The comp and I

 

 

 

 

 

And the Crowd Goes Wild!

 大家好！Hey Everyone!

We are experiencing a lot of grief and loss in the mission currently. Elder Liu has "died." He has gone the way of all the earth, Taiwan in particular. I'm gonna miss him. Our Mission President is also "on his deathbed," and will go back to Utah on Tuesday. He will be succeeded by a certain “President Barth,” whom we have yet to meet. We hope he eventually becomes as awesome as our last mission pres.

Elder Scoresby and I went street contacting a lot this week. We had an funny time once when we passed by this beggar with a cardboard sign and everything, who suddenly started shouting that we and all the church members are pedophiles, as well as some other nasty stuff involving shotguns. It was hilarious! I feel sorta bad for the guy as well, he was really shooting himself in the foot there.

Transfers happened this week! I'm back in the northwest area—the apartment I've been in most of my mission. Hooray and what not! I'm also with Elder Labrum again who finished my training. I also basically got called out at transfers when the Mission pres. said these words:  “Some of you are moving back to old areas. Some of you even have old companions again. Know that even though things may look familiar, this transfer will be a different experience.”

… and boy oh boy has it already been different because of this:

¡¡¡INSANE MIRACLE ON SUNDAY!!! 👇

So there I was… on my way to church, and Elder Labrum told me he found this guy named Sam when talking to people at the public transit stations. Sam met once earlier in the week and then came to church, and he seemed super stoked to be there. We snuck in a little lesson at the end about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and God was so generous as to give me a very fitting basketball analogy** that he understood very well. When we got to point #3 about baptism, we had a member explain and show him the font. That's when he shook us with, “So when can I get baptized?” So SAM IS NOW ON DATE to be baptized in mid-July!!!!!

**This is the extended, thought-out edition of the basketball analogy, aka “The Gospel, as told by Michael, Magic, Larry, and Jon”:

• God is the coach. His winning streak has no beginning and is without end. He has put us on the court to become basketball players. We get to choose what kind of player we want to be. But if we want to be an NBA All-star, here are the steps we need to take so we can be champs:
• Have faith in the coach. He knows how to win, He's got the perfect game plan. Trust the coach and follow what He says.
• Practice. The coach asks that we practice. We'll frequently miss shots, passes, and rebounds, but the coach will help us improve as we practice. (Or as Michael would say, “Stop it, get some help.”)
• You can't be in the NBA if you're not on the team. Sure, some of us may know the coach pretty well. Some of us might’ve practiced on a few Sunday afternoons. But all that practice won't amount to as much unless we try out for his team. And the great news is no one gets cut from God's team!
• Get a Jersey! The Jersey reminds us whose team we're on, it helps us get the words of the coach in our heads all the time. When you're on the team, you can hear what the coach is saying all the time, not just on Sunday afternoons.
• Repeat. Keep trusting the coach. Keep practicing. Don't quit the team. Play worthy of the Jersey. March Madness is stressful and the opposing team is in everyone's brackets, but remember the coach’s game plan! Remember how happy you'll be when the buzzer-beater shot is made, and the coach and all the retired players in the bleachers storm the court with him—for in the coach's case are many trophies, and there is a place prepared for one with your name on it.

That's it for this week! Stay cool everyone! Literally though, It's getting mighty hot this time of year!

Love you all! 爱你们！

-熊长老


照片： 

park job

Calgary Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy

19 June 2024

 大家好！Hey Everyone!

Wowza! I reeeeeally gotta be getting these out sooner! My sincere apologies to everyone for the lack of good communication and response.

'Aight, so I forgot to share something last week that is actually really miraculous in hindsight, so behold!

One day we found we had an extra hour in the afternoon and decided to huck a street contact. We waved down this lady who didn't speak hardly any English, so we asked the classic “Where are you from?” to which she replied “Moose Jaw.” After a moment of scratching my head and wondering, “Where in China is there a place called Moose Jaw?” we gave her a Book of Mormon and wrote down her last name “Wang" and what wasn't a super valid phone number. BUT! We discovered a few days later a curious correlation! We got a referral sent to us over two weeks ago by some Elders in Saskatchewan, who said the person they were teaching was stopping in Calgary before going back to China. We had called a bunch with no successful contact. On another glance at the referral, we saw that the name provided was Yang Wang which came from Elders serving in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan! We're still not able to contact her successfully, but she's got a Book of Mormon now, which I'm confident will come into play later.

As far as the past few days, it was wild as always. Some older couple living just outside of Calgary offered to feed a bunch of missionaries on Thursday. I think they must've discovered some gnarly buried treasure somewhere: they had a massive house with a ton of stuff. The guy feeding us was showing us his garage of all these jigsaw puzzles he had done, and when one Elder said “Woah! Where did you get this Ferrari!” he replied “Oh, that old thing?”

Crazy.

Companionship Update: My companion and I have now become Lamanites after bringing upon ourselves the mark of Wahl (Alma 3:4). . . I don't feel like talking about it a bunch, but just be aware some of these pictures you see may look different for a minute.

I don’t have a great spiritual thought this week, but I’ve been looking at some Chinese characters I think have really cool meanings. Check it out (you may need to zoom in to see)

聖 = Holy (耳 = ear/to hear, 口 = mouth, 王 = king, Lord ⇒ Hear the Words of the Lord)

望 = Hope (亡 = death, 月 = the moon/month/cycle/rebirth, 王 = Lord ⇒ The Lord of Death and Resurrection)

耶稣基督 - Jesus Christ

 耶 - transliteration, has the same character for hear 耳

 穌 - revive (魚 = fish, 禾 = grain)

 基 - foundation (其 = his/theirs, 士 = earth/soil)

 督 - direct/oversee (叔 = father’s relative/younger brother, 目 = eye/gaze/see)

(Personal translation) 耶稣基督 ⇒ Hear Him who is risen, who works miracles, our cornerstone, our foundation; look to the beloved Son of God

If you would like, take a look in some scriptures and look for a new pattern. Patterns help us better understand truth.

Stay cool Everyone! Love you all!

爱你们！

-熊长老

 

Photos:

Last pic with the Mission Pres 

[The president and his wife have completed their mission]

A slice of scripture?

Ferrari 

 

sad hair day

 

Elder Scoresby at Peace Bridge

 

 

 

 

Thirsty as a Jackrabbit in July!

 [Title probably references this clip from Rango.]

12 June 2024

Supplies! Wednesday P-day again!

 Updates with friends this week:

• We think our friend Liu could be close to accepting baptism! He’s been invited a couple times, and he's pretty hesitant. He's got a lot of secondary questions that he's been wading through, but we're really hoping he decides to put his faith in the more important principles. Please pray for him!

• We met with Lilian, a regular student of English class, for the first time, as well as her husband. Her husband told us he had been researching a lot of religions and hoped to tell us about them. We had a very short lesson about God and about prayer, but wow it was very Spirit-led! We're meeting with them again tomorrow IN PERSON!!!

Last Wednesday was Zone Conference, and the chapel we met at was about 3 blocks from our house, so we walked! It was great fun! It felt so unusual walking that much, I had to check my tag to make sure it still had Mandarin on it.

Last Thursday or sometime, we went a-walking downtown and ran into this guy who wanted to “““ask us a question,””” which was code for lecturing us that there are many false Christs spreading the Devil's word these days, and so the only way our soul can truly be saved in Heaven is by turning to Jesus and condemning all religion of any kind. . . .  Interesting take. Almost as interesting as his last point about how we worshiped Joseph Smith (classic). He was talking for a very long time but that provided me with a fantastic opportunity to silently pray for him (gottem :])).

Around last Friday we heard about a big water line inCalgary that broke, and now Calgary's water supply is at critical levels in some areas of the city. Then we also received a notice on Sunday from the Mission President that all baptisms were to be postponed until further notice. . . .  I don't know how that's gonna ride with the whole "every companionship should baptize in June" ambition, but I have faith that God will either help us work towards and receive a miracle or that he will help us out in some other aspects of the work.

Today we went to THE TEMPLE!!! I've noticed a pattern in the most divinely appointed sources, that even though the experience can be the same, there is always something to be learned. The words of the scriptures and other great books can be read over and over again, and there will always be something new you can learn. Truly great music can be heard over and over again, but there will always be something new you can discover during each listen. When going to the temple you can always perform the same ordinances as before, but no matter how many times you go, God will always reveal something new to you. I invite you all to pick something edifying you've seen, heard, read, witnessed, or experienced before, and try it again! Notice what you learn this time around knowing that “repetition legitimizes" a

[Editor's note:  we may never know.]

Stay cool everyone! Love you all!

爱你们！

–熊长老

照片

sunsets

Contacting in Public

Walking to Zone Conference

Mendelssohn!?!?

Dinner with our recent Convert friend Jem at the Canadian equivalent of Olive Garden

What are you doing here?

3 June 2024 

[Title references this SNL sketch.]

在一起，所以阿尔玛看到自己的弟兄时非常高兴；更令他高兴的是，他们仍是他主内的弟兄，而且他们更了解真理了，因为他们的理解力很强，且都努力

–阿尔玛书17:2

The above is an excerpt from Alma Chapter 17 verse 2. I had a miraculous experience this last Tuesday that reminded me a lot of this scripture. So there I was, ordering a Vietnamese sub sandwich downtown shortly after our District Council Meeting, and one of the other Elders suggested we walk across the street while we wait for our sandwich and take a picture by a big mirror they had there. As we walk over there, we see a big group of people, and one guy turns around and says, “Hey, It’s the missionaries!” To which I eloquently replied, “Well HellooooooaaauuuuuuuuuughhhhaaaaAaAAAAAAAAAA-I-KNOW-YOU!!!!” Suddenly in front of me were several friends [from home] of several different ages and previously different social circles all congregated in Calgary!!!! I am now convinced that Calgary has gotta be up there among one of the best cities ever…for the time being.  [Prophetic!  It's in the top 100.]

Other people we met this week include Wenjia, an actually legit referral from the sister missionaries! He has shown some great interest in the church, and I hope we haven’t scared him off yet. He came to church this week, as did our friend Wendy, whom we are now teaching every Thursday night after class! We invited our friend Liu to be baptized, and he said he needed some more time, so we invited him to pray about it. We hope he is willing to set a baptism goal with us this week. On a completely unrelated note, the mission has now set a goal for every companionship to baptize in the month of June. . . . Kinda daunting, but super cool! Knowing the kind of companion Elder Scoresby is, and how he’s whipped me into shape, I think with the Lord’s help we can do it!

We hosted a little party for our English class students on Saturday! It went well. I would’ve liked a little more time to talk 1-on-1 with more students and spike some interest in church, but I suppose the games and fun was tolerable as well. (We all know you can’t be having too much fun out here😉)

Over the past week our district focused on gratitude, and I’ll be really honest:  my focus kept shifting in and out a lot, but overall I thought more about gratitude this week than I have in previous weeks. It was great! Our geliebten/beloved Apostle Elder Uchtdorf recently shared some great wisdom in General Conference regarding the phrase “seek and ye shall find.” When we express Gratitude we are really seeking that which is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,” and we develop more of these attributes in our own lives. This week I invite you to say a prayer of just gratitude every day, and take notice of how you feel. Also a bonus invitation—go 24 hours without complaining about anything. I know that the less we focus on things that are out of our control, the more we can take action towards things that are in our control. I know that God brings forth great blessings to those who are grateful.

Most of all I'm super grateful for all of you--my friends, my family--and for all you've done for me!

Stay cool Everyone! Love you all!

爱你们！

–熊长老

Serendipity

28 May 2024

What are the chances!?!  An encounter with family friends on the streets of Calgary. 

(Each is connected to the other two in different ways -- discovering that is half of the surprise in the photo!)

Marisa, Elder Baer, Lauren