Happy Canada Day!!!! And a brave 'face' July 3, 2018

July 3/18: Note from the Mom: Sometimes Lance puts on a brave face and writes to everyone saying all the positive things in his week, which is a great quality, but I also know he is writing these blogposts as a journal and memories of his mission so I wanted to include another note he sent to me beforehand. I asked him if I could include it too, to show it isn't all rosy and great ALL the time. He is trying so hard to do what is right and be positive. 

This was a hard week to be honest. We didn't get to teach one lesson as they either bombed us and weren't there or wouldn't meet. All five of those investigators we found last week have either already dropped us or they don't want to meet. So we had hours of finding this week which was kinda hard in the 40 degree weather. I'm so happy that you had a great spiritual experience mom at Moroni's Quest. It is very true what you said at the end: when you have something good you want to keep it. I feel this happens everyday for me but then it leaves the next hour. Its hard, like you find a new person one hour and are so excited and then the rest of the day you get racked upon. It truly is hard. But I do know the gospel is true and is the thing that makes me know I have to be here. Just like I have said in the past, I have made a convent with God I will do the things He asks me to do. So I'm doing them. I miss you guys though and being normal. I think this week was just extra rough with Canada day and it being so hot and nice out. Like you see everyone else having fun and with their friends and family and its just hard. I know I'm planting seeds because we talk to lots of people (most are not interested but take a card which is nice). But anyway I don't know what I am getting at but my companion and I are doing good. I do most of the teaching and contacting just because he isn't too comfortable with the language. So I think I'm going to start making it a goal to say I'll talk to 5 people, and then you do 5. But all is good. Well, hope all is good.  Audrey (Kianna's baby) looks so cute and I am very excited to meet her and to be with you guys again. I read over my setting apart blessing the other day and sometimes I don't know what I am doing wrong but I feel most haven't happened I don't think at least. If you got any ideas on what I can do to make sure God is pleased with me let me know. Or like what you did to know God was on your mission. I'm not out here to just be here. I heard Caleb Tagg has helped a friend out a lot named Nell from my high school-that is so sweet! I am so happy for him and for Nell (ahah he's doing better then me at missionary work ahahah). Anyways keep being awesome. I am doing good and keeping hopeful...​

Believe it or not the fire works here in this little town were actually pretty solid. Good times for sure haha. This week was crazy hot. It got to over 40 with humidity multiple times that! haha. So that made walking very interesting. We walked the other day a hour and a half to an appointment and they weren't there and it was one of the plus 40 days hahah....o goodness that was a good time 🤣🤣. No!!!  but the work his is good. Slow but we got some really good potential. It's nice in a small place; more people who are willing to stop for a second to talk compared to a big city where it's go go go. It's been a good time as we had a strawberry social with all the members and some non-members (a social event where we just ate strawberries and cake). We had a lot of good finding time lately as people are outside more now that it's summer. We got to do lots of service this week. One that was extremely cool was making cement yard ornaments. Like you know the big lions rich people have on their driveway! I'll send some pictures for you guys to see.

It's crazy what you can make! There is a member in our ward that does this for a living and needed some help with some of the heavy ones and pouring some of the cement. We also got to dig some fence posts. That was crazy fun, it felt like I was back at home working at our place doing renos back home! Yep so really good times and some really dark skin that came with being outside so much haha. To be honest we didn't have anything too crazy cool happen this week. Just hot and fun memories. It's is always awesome to have our personal study every morning and I read something that was extremely profound the other day. It is from the 'guide to the scriptures' under joy. It reads "A condition of great happiness coming from righteous living. The purpose of mortal life is for all people to have joy (2 Ne. 2:25). A full joy will come only through Jesus Christ". I know this is why I am feeling joy at this time in my life and have in the past and will in the future. I'm not saying those who don't believe in Christ can't have joy, I am saying a fullness of joy does 100% come from a belief in Christ. Many people search for this and that's why being a missionary is so rewarding. It's so powerful and profound what we as missionaries get to share it on a daily basis. Whether or not the person we talk to accepts it, is up to the individual. Our job is to invite all to come unto Christ; not force it on them. That isn't what our Father in Heaven wants. He gave us agency for a reason. He wanted every single individual to have that choice to accept Him as our Father and Christ as our Savior. It shows the love He has for us and the desire he has for us to be joyful. Every single day we make decisions. Some of the time we make good choices and some of the time we make bad ones. But because of the plan of happiness our Father in Heaven has created, we have the opportunity to repent and change and become better. This is the thing that brings a fullness of joy. What a blessing it is to know this and be out here sharing it with others! I hope all is well back home. Love u all and keep being awesome 🤙