Elder Lance Dec 12/18

It's been such a crazy week!! Got to the city!! It's honestly so sweet. I have never driven or seen so many people on buses in my life haha. My new comp and I are doing so well. We this week was so crazy as we had transfers Tuesday and had to drive all the Elders and Sisters in our zone to all their apartments as they are all in bus areas....we have a van and a bus pass (super awesome!!). So that was fun getting to know everyone in our zone as well as be able to help them get settled in. We found out we have to find a new apartment in the next month or so as our place just sold aha so that will be interesting. Then most of Wednesday we did planning a little bit of bus contacting and figuring out the people they were teaching before as we are both new in the area. So we are in what's called the North York zone. Our chapel is legit in the middle of massive houses. For example, Drakes house is in our area as well as Kyle Lowry haha! so this is the super rich part of Toronto. Then Thursday we had mission leadership meetings all day and came back and played basketball with some ward members as well as some people we are teaching. Then Saturday we were able to go to the temple with some recent converts and that was a very special experience. To see them participate in ordinances for their ancestors is amazing. I truly have a testimony that the work we do here on this earth not only affects those on this side but the other. What a blessing it is to have revelation from God to make sure every single one of his loved children of God has an opportunity to participate in these ordinances by the proper authority. I honestly feel that being out here has given me so much better of a perspective of what the gospel can do for you in such an amazingly positive way. Kinda like what C.S Lewis says "Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably. … [You see,] He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of. … You thought you were [being] made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.". I thought I knew what he was trying to make me into before I left on my mission but now I realize he is trying to make me into something much more than I imagined. I am sure I will continue to realize that I can be so much more then what I think even know. That is one of the most amazing things I have learned out here. God has a plan and its to help us to change for the better. He has given us that opportunity through our Savior Jesus Christ and this beautiful world is given to us to receive a body, as well as grow as humans. Ok, really quick miracle moment. Sunday we had church and we had two people we are teaching! One has a date for January 12 for baptism and the other guy we just met for the first time at church as he received a card from one of us and came out and we got to teach a lesson to him! He actually lived in Calgary for a couple years as well, so that is super cool. The ward members in this ward are so great at the fellowship of new people. I think he received at least three hugs well he was here aha. There is honestly over 10 different ethnicities in our ward alone. So many people from all parts of the world. It's actually quite cool to see how the gospel has spread and touch so many from all walks of life. Also is so much warmer in the city ahhh

love it here haha. People are so open to talking on the buses and on the street as it seems like so many more people are open-minded and searching for something (we know its the gospel they don't just yet). Well, I love you all and hope you are doing great. Have a great week!!