Christmas Conference, Laughing Fits and Chicken Milk

Week 17

Hey guys! Merry week before Christmas! 

I hope you don't question the title too much. Let me put it clear: you cannot milk a chicken. 

This week has been pretty great. We have done quite a bit of tracting, and given away quite a few copies of the Book of Mormon. It's really weird to have a dinner appointment every night, but I'm getting used to it. Can't complain!

Our buddy Braydon is getting really close to baptism, we have 4 meetings to cram into the next week and a half, so it'll be fun! Last Tuesday we taught him the commandments using hand gestures, and he actually did really good. We got a text from his dad (former investigator) this morning saying he wants to meet with us again, which is super exciting! 

We had Christmas Conference on Wednesday, and it was really great. There were several really great musical numbers, and a lot of fun activities for us to do. We surprised President Pattison with a song called The Standard of Truth, and he cried a lot, as did the rest of us. It was very spiritual. We played the left and right game with our white elephant gifts, and I ended up with a game called bean boozled. 

We had dinner with the Rodriguez family that night, and they were super fun to be around. They're from Guatemala, and they looooved to tell us about it. We showed them the Because of Him video, and afterwards what Grandma Rodriguez said really struck me. "I know Him." She said. She testified about her personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I believe that is something we all ought to have, not just at this time of the year. Before we got all spiritual, we were talking about tres leches cake, and she made a joke about The three different kinds of milk in tres leches. Disclaimer: Chicken milk is not a real thing! 

We had a ton of dinner appointments this week, and one Sunday night with the smith family (including Sam Smith hehe), and they invited a ton of their friends. It was awesome to see their missionary efforts, and to read some of their Calvin and Hobbes books! 

We went on exchanges Sunday night to last night with the Gateway YSA Elders, Elder Neild and Elder Christiansen. We had a lot of fun and a lot of good talks with people while we had Elder Christiansen with us. We also got told were run by Freemasons and a bunch of other stuff. Got cussed at a few times. Good fun, life of a missionary. 

We had a sweeeeeeeet lesson last night with a Brazilian lady named Marcella, it was a little difficult because she has a hard time expressing herself in English. But luckily we brought a member with us, who not only knows Portuguese, but learned Portuguese because she was given a Portuguese Book of Mormon. So that was pretty cool. We showed her the Restoration video in Portuguese, and she really enjoyed it. Her and her husband Moacyr really really like us, so hopefully they continue to listen to us! 

This morning we were able to do some service (on a pday, like whaaaat?) for something called the Christmas Elves, they gather together food and presents, and they deliver them to underprivileged people in the area. The Beaumont sisters also came to help. So we got to load up the deliverers cars with boxes, then they drove off and delivered it. There were about 85 houses they loaded out to, so that was cool. The whole time we were doing it, I had an undeniable happiness inside. I couldn't stop singing dancing and smiling. Serving people is great. 

I want to wish y'all a very merry Christmas! This is probably the most opportune time of year for us to share the gospel and be prime examples of Christlike Service. I want to challenge you all to do your best to do some random acts of service, and make somebody's day. 

I love you all! Keep moving forward! 

Love 

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Pictures:

1. Elder Chamberlain and I at Christmas Conference

2. Elder Haymore, friend of Jordan Stone from Arizona

3. Elder Haymore and I again

4. My white elephant gift, there's two flavours for every colour of bean, one good, one bad. for example: Spoiled Milk and Cocount, chocolate pudding vs canned dog food. Pretty nasty.

5. Merry Christmas to my family:) 

6. Left to right, Elder Johnston, Elder Woodruff, Me, President Pattison, Sister Pattison at Christmas conference 

7. Elder Carter Hinton from my MTC district

8. A sick totem pole we found

9. Little Christmas sketch I did at church last week

10. Elder Woodruff and I at the Country Christmas lights

11. Elder Wells, Elder Woodruff and Elder Johnston

12. Merry Christmas Y'all. 

13. Our neat little Christmas tree, with all of Elder Johnston's Gifts

14. I met a famous little snowman 

15. The picture doesn't do justice, but Brother Townsend looks like Chris Pratt

Videos at country Christmas, and Elder johnston doing weird things with his eyes

The Weather is Absolutely Frightening

Week 16 

Some of you may remember at my farewell talk, I read a poem that I wrote. One of the lines of the poem was, "I'm going to freeze my tail off, I'm going to go knock doors." Yeah, that was this week. It's been down to -40 Celsius (the same as -40 Fahrenheit). At that temperature, were not allowed to go outside, so we had some time to spend in the apartment together.

Oh yeah! Last week was transfers, so I was transferred to Devon/Leduc. It's just south of Edmonton. My new companions are Elder Johnston from Rigby, Idaho, and Elder Woodruff who is waiting on his visa to go to Guam. He is from Innisfail, Alberta. Not too far away. 

It's been really hard to get used to a ward, after being in a branch of about 40-50 people. But it's been good thus far. 

We have a lot of recent convert lessons going on, because I guess 5 people got baptized in September/October, so we only have like one investigator. His name is Brayden, he is a 9 year old boy, with severe ADD/ADHD. But luckily, he's on baptismal date for December 25 or 31. So our lessons only last about 10 minutes with him. We got to have a really cool object lesson with him about the Holy Ghost and how it's like an electric blanket. (I've been sleeping with the electric blanket since that lesson) Brayden's mom, Terra, is a returning less active we've been working with. 

We've been able to have some really great lessons with some great people this past week. I wish I could go into more detail, but I don't have names down. 

Kind of a fun experience  the other day, while we were tracting, we knocked on this guys door, and he opened it and this massive wolf-like German shepherd almost knocked me over. I was so scared. But I know I have protection with the Lord on my side! 

We stopped by a couple of older ladies, Ida and her daughter Erika, and Ida is from Germany. She lived through the wartimes and told us all about it. I now know more about Ukraine and Germany and Russia than I ever thought I would. We were able to share a Christmas video with them, and the spirit was very strong in the room. 

That same area with the huge dog, we left half the block unknocked, because we had to go somewhere. A few days later, Elder Woodruff asked me where I wanted to tract. I said we needed to finish the last place we were. As we finished that block, nobody had heard us out, listened to anything we said, let us in, took a card, or anything. Then we got to the second to last house. A super nice lady named Ralene let us in and was really perky and happy that we were here to teach her about the truth of Jesus Christs gospel. That was a miracle in and of itself. 

We went tracting yesterday, and the entire street for the most part was really nice to us. People feel bad when they see you freezing, and they will a lot of the time let you in. I'm thankful for hand warmers; greatest invention next to the toaster. I found a place on the map called Wells court, so we obviously had to go tracting there. We met a super cool dude named Darcy who is obsessed with gramophones. I knew that it wasn't just a coincidence that we tracted Wells Court, but it was because Darcy needed us! 

It'll take some getting used to, and I know that Heavenly Father knows us and our weaknesses. He knows where we don't quite reach the mark, but He makes up the difference. Sometimes we have to humble ourselves enough to be on our knees, asking for help from the atonement before He will help us do what we want or need to do. I know it's true, and you can too! 

Love all y'all! 

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Canada Edmonton Mission

2 Nephi 31:20 

Many much pictures:

1. Chris, member from Vermilion, with Spike

2. The city of Edmonton

3. Letting my Idaho show

4. Elder Woodruff and Elder Johnston playing battleship on our -40 day

5. Repping the Ugly Christmas Ties (Johnston, Woodruff, Wells Christmas Card)

6. Leduc thought I was so baller, they named the court after me. 

7. Whoa. That's my name. 

Adios & Via Con Dios, V-Town

Week 15

Hello, Peoples!

So, this has been probably the absolute wildest week ever. 

It started out as any normal week, met some really nice people, helped with a birthday party at a nursing home, read to an elderly lady named Marjorie, and tracted. A lot.

Thursday morning we got a phone call and we were told that Vermilion is going to be closing down for missionary work, just for a short while. Sad. Later we also found out that the Lloydminster sister missionaries will be covering Vermilion, so we get to leave our beloved investigators in their hands. But guess what that means.... Elder Leigh and I are being transferred out of Vermilion. So so so sad to go, and I will miss all these wonderful people. They have done so much to help us and teach us, and they have been so kind to us. The area will miss us, as much as we will miss the area. 

We had a great last lesson with Peggy, although we had to move her baptism date to some unknown time in the future, she is going to be starting an addiction recovery program. Something I told her that I can say for a  fact was the spirit was that the harder you try to move in the right direction, satan will push you back just as much. He will be with you every step of the way, but you have to be on the Lords side. You can't ride the fence with this, or you'll just end up with scars on your butt. Probably the greatest analogy ever. 

So we have been cleaning and packing up our apartment like crazy, and saying goodbye to people all over the place, and showing the Lloyd sisters around, having them meet members and investigators and whatnot. It's been good for them. After we got the news, we freaked out for a little bit, but we prayed soon after, and a huge overwhelming peace came over me. This is what The Lord has planned for us, and there's a reason. I know wherever I go to next will be just as great. The work to do is here for you, right? I know we have to set aside our own desires for what God wants. We have to be humble enough to fully accept His will, and know that there are blessings in store for us as we listen and obey. 

Not a whole lot else to say! 

Much love! 

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Canada Edmonton Mission

2 Nephi 31:20 

Pictures!

1. Us showing the Lloydminster sisters around Vermilion

2. Epic panorama of the apartment in shambles

3. We found some super tight shirts, so we tried to look buff

4. Vermilion is jeep town... and I love jeeps

5. Noble bench outside the McFadzeans home

6. Branch Presidents son, Eli wanted to take a selfie

7. Branch President Crowe and his favourite missionaries 

8. A wild Leigh appeared!

9. My zipper broke... duct tape and paper clips fixed it! 

10. Us with the McFadzeans

11. The Hellers (we live in their basement)

12. Elder Leigh and I in our glory days... yesterday 

Lights are On, Nobody's Home

Week 14

Hello lovely humans who I love! The title of this email is from a country song, in honour of all the houses we've tracted this transfer, in which the lights were on, and nobody answered the door. 

The Vermilion area is doing mucho Bueno. I think. They haven't kicked me out yet, so that's at least a good sign. A lot of the locals are starting to recognize us, even if they don't want to hear our message. 

We had another lesson with Brandon This week, it went really well. Even though we were teaching the Restoration, somehow his questions came back to eternal families and the Plan of salvation. He is starting to grasp it real well, and we're hoping it becomes a priority for him. After the lesson, we were joking about how much we walk (we use the car more now because it's so dang cold) and he offered us a Fitbit to track the steps we take. So that's been kinda funny. 

We heard part of a less active lady's story last week, and this is how it goes. Sister Austin was doing dishes or something when her daughter ran and answered the door. She ran up to her mom and said, "mom there's someone at the door." 

"What are they selling?" 

She ran back down the stairs and asked that question.

"They said it's a Book." 

"How much does it cost?" Runs back down and asks them. 

"They said it's free, mom." 

So the missionaries gave the little girl a Book of Mormon. Sister Austin read the Book of Mormon and the rest is history.

WELL, we had almost the exact same situation happen, just the day or so after Sister Austin told us the story. We handed the girl a Book of Mormon and hope it has the same effect on that family as it did on the Austins. 

Thursday was my favourite holiday down in the states, and I was worried we wouldn't get any turkey. We ended up having a thanksgiving meal at a members house that night. It was delicious, and I was able to try rutabaga for the first time. Weird. 

We did teach Ray, but there was a strange combination of heated topics and spiritual moments, and she ended up dropping us. But that's ok, we didn't offend her or anything she just didn't want to continue with the lessons.

Another Funny story We had a dinner with the Branch Presidents family  Friday night, and I was exhausted, as was President. While we shared our message, the kids were rambunctious and I wasn't in tune with the spirit, so we had a hard time teaching. When I was asked to say the prayer at the end of the message, what I wanted to say was "thankful for their hospitality" but the only word that was coming to mind was "hostility". Luckily I didn't say that. Haha

Saturday was a good day. We went out to Mannville and hung up Paula's Christmas lights, and used as much redneck ingenuity as we could. Many extension cords, very few staples, and a barrel instead of a ladder. My dad should be proud. 

As we were about to leave Mannville, I got a prompting that we should stop by A certain house. The lady had referred her husband to us, and when we had come back to see him, they weren't home. So we stopped by. She said her husband would be back at 6:30, and we could visit him then. So we did. When we came back that night, I had the strangest feeling I knew them both from somewhere. I know we were led to teach them and bring the gospel into their lives. We taught Shane the first lesson, and he really enjoyed it. He said he'd get right on reading the Book of Mormon, and even before we finished teaching, he was asking how to get to the church, what time meetings start and all that. He's super psyched. And so are we. Really the best part about that lesson was that his wife had started in the kitchen and was ignoring us, but little by little she started skirting around us on the couch and then soon was sitting, listening intently and was asking questions. It was amazing to see her be drawn into the message of the Restoration. 

We had our Stake Conference over broadcast this Sunday, and it was easily the best one I've ever been to. Also the only one I've ever stayed awake the entire time. The spirit was so strong. They had converts share their story and their testimonies with us, and it was amazing to hear. We have the power to influence so many people. 

Yesterday we got to help Peggy clean up her basement, after she kicked out her renters. They trashed the place and so we and a member got to clean it all up. When we left, she was literally speechless. She started crying and didn't know how to thank us. She has had a few setbacks on her way towards baptism, but nothing she can't handle. She will definitely be baptized soon, maybe not the day we were thinking. Prayers are much appreciated! 

The more I serve my fellowmen, the more I know they can feel the love of the lord. I love this gospel! It's absolutely amazing, and we should never take it for granted! 

Transfers are next week so we shall see what that brings! 

That's it for this week! Hope to hear good things from y'all soon! 

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Canada Edmonton Mission

2 Nephi 31:20 

Pictures: 

1 Being goofy

2.Dinner made by Elder Idaho (funeral potatoes, meatloaf by sister Austin. Mom should be proud!) 

3. Behold, a mighty unicorn fossil 

4. I thought of Dallin Blacker when I saw this truck 

5. The fog was so thick, we could look directly at the sun

Sittin' On a Red Bench

Week 13.

I hit the 3 month wall on the 24th. Holy cow!

How are y'all doing? I hope to hear from you soon! 

On Wednesday, and the days following, we saw many many miracles. 

We were planning on going to Mannville, a really small town outside of Vermilion, to go tracting. First house we knocked on, the lady let us in and listened to us talk about the Book of Mormon. She said she is t too interested but her husband would be! So that was great. 

The next house, the lady was just as willing to listen, so we left her with a Restoration pamphlet and came back yesterday to give her a Book of Mormon. (Her daughter was tired of having to door open and being cold so she pushed her mom outside and locked the door... it was kinda funny) the first two houses! That never happens! 

Later on down the street, a young man opened the door and said his parents might be interested. On the other side of the street, nobody was interested, but one guy told us he sees spirits and demons and angels and stuff like that all the time, and said it's probably because of the pentagram

on his ceiling. He was pretty crazy. But we gave him our card and fled. I felt something weird when I shook his hand. 

Friday, we came in from tracting, nobody wanted to hear it, so we came back to the house. Elder Leigh suggested we took lunch early, and I was kind of wanting to do more tracting. We had twenty minutes until lunch was officially supposed to start. We knocked on three doors and the third one, a young man accepted a Book of Mormon and we talked about his beliefs for a bit. And all because we utilized 20 minutes of our time. So many tracting miracles!

We've been teaching Peggy a lot more lately, and we're hoping she gives up smoking soon, or we'll have to push her baptism back a week or so. We taught her about the Atonement, The story of Ammon and King Lamoni, and a lot of other stuff.

We had a good lesson with Radiance the other night, and Brother Heller came along. It was good to have him there, but he kind of talked the whole time. Radiance has a lot of questions, so we weren't able to get to all of them right then. I think she's starting to pick up bits and pieces, but what she really needs is to feel the spirit.

We were also able to find a young man named Kalin and a really jolly guy named Roger and give them the Book of Mormon. I really hope they take the time to read it. 

One thing I've been trying to do more in our door approaches is mention that 

as missionaries, we give people the opportunity  to learn more about Jesus Christ. It's not about us forcing it, and we can't do that. But we do give them the opportunity because they have their agency. 

Saturday night after our dinner appointment with President Crowe, we came outside and it was snowing. So that's been a nice little change of pace. It's only been about 2 inches, but people are still sliding (only when they drive like idiots which is everyone because Vermilion is a hick town). 

Sunday we had our primary program, and the kids did so well! Some of them had their parts memorized, and the songs touched my heart like they never had before. Since Elder Leigh and I teach primary, we had our own little parts, and it was fun to feel like a kid again. I started to realize how much these kids really look up to missionaries. 

Last night I got a blessing from brother Heller, (we live in their basement suite) and it was probably the greatest spiritual experience as of late. It was to help me sleep better and just to keep me motivated in the work. Then afterwards, we had ice cream and talked about temple experiences and they gave me an extra mattress. 

It's been good but rough at the same time, but I'm always plowing on! Like the snow plows that never come out in the winter in burley! Keep moving forward and always remember to count your blessings. Happy Thanksgiving! Eat some turkey for me! I love y'all. 

Hope to hear from you soon! 

Love,

Elder Wells

Pictures: 

1. Sittin' on a red bench (only some will understand)

2. Interesting decals on a truck

3. Because Train Track

4.It's too darn cold outside

5. Door to door service? Hey we do that! 

6. Since I can't draw Jeffrey R. Holland, this will work.

7. My mattress fortress (all for back comfort) 

The Hard Way/The Idaho Poem

The following are two poems Trevor wrote last week, that he felt he needed to send. 
Hope you enjoy! 

Written November 15, 2016

The Hard Way

By Trevor J. Wells

I often wonder why this is the road I take

I drop to my knees every time I awake. 

I've had to learn the hard way, my whole entire life

Beaten with false hope, pain, and stricken with strife.

Of the many many paths all of which I could go,

The hardest one is the one I will always know.

Of tribulation I've seen, the pathway was bare,

There was No sight of help, or a sign, only snare. 

The abyss seeped in, but I came out alive,

Because for the light, I knew I could strive.

I turned to the sky, neither right nor left,

Only up and to God, the direction Jesus wept.

I only wanted it done, I just wanted out

But looking back, I knew what these trials were  about.

I always took a rough path, studded with sharp stones,

Halfway through I'd be battered, beaten to the bones.

 I made it through to the end of each path, the top of each hill

Only To see many more and more, my life would be filled.

As I prayed along the way, my heart poured out to my God,

I knew that He'd hold out His hand to help me along.

He loves me, is why I travel the much harder way,

He taught me to ask, to seek, to find, and to pray.

The easier path would not have taught me much at all,

On that path, there would be no reason to call.

I came to the end of each steep, stony trail

Thanking my Father for extending an iron rail.

I held to it fast, eyes closed, pushing on through

Because I know through Christ, all things I can do. 

Philippians 4:13

The IDAHO Poem

By Trevor J. Wells

Mountains, highways, trees, and small towns

The place where REAL spuds grow in the ground.

A river runs through the southern part,

There's only one place that holds my heart.

The Broncos play ball on their true blue field,

When you breathe in, the western air becomes real.

From Bonners Ferry to Jackpot, and all the way in between 

The winters will be white, the springtime will be green.

There are purple mountains in their majesty to the south of my home,

Little hamlets and big cities, from east of Boise, out to Bone.

There's a city of rocks, a river of snakes, And a Taco Bandito

The coyotes howl, and a thousand or two of the rare mosquito

The pioneers came on through, and settled on down

Whether they thrived or became just like a ghost town.

There's a few Mormons here, a catholic there, 

And we all come together for a big county fair. 

Butch Otter and Bruce Willis, the famous people and the not quite so,

In the Rockies, We live and we breathe and we bleed and we grow.

though some come real close, nothing feels quite like home

Than the western, mountainous gem of old Idaho. 

As dry as it gets, or as stormy as can be

This funny shaped state like one big family.

Call it Idahome if you will, we accept it as such,

There's only one place that we love so darn much.

To me it's like heaven, no saint Peter, no big gate,

Just a lot of good people with their heads screwed on straight. 

I'll always go back there, to my home I'll always go. 

The greatest place on the earth is old Idaho. 

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Canada Edmonton Mission

2 Nephi 31:20 

Peggy, Porcupines, Poutine, and Poppies

Week 9 or 12 Depending on how you look at it

Hi Fam! 

Lots of good things this week, but I'll try to keep it short, I really will. 

First and foremost, Peggy is on date to be baptized on December 3rd! This has been almost 4 years coming. She was on date a few years back but she said it didn't feel right. A lot of missionaries kind of just let her fall to the wayside, she wasn't a priority. But when we got here, I felt she was part of the purpose for me being here. She has made so much improvement in the last 2-3 months, and I can't wait to see her enter the waters of baptism. Thank you so much for the prayers on behalf of our investigators, especially Peggy! 

We had interviews with President Pattison on Thursday, and after that we had Zone Training meeting. It was probably the most spiritual one We've had since I've been out. It was truly amazing to hear all the testimonies being borne, and we also learned a new way to introduce the Book of Mormon. 

We went to dinner with our Zone leaders after the meeting, and I got to try two Canadian delicacies... at the same time! The first is donair. Basically it's beef cooked on a big vertical spike, then they shave it off and put sauce on it. Or, you can put it in poutine(the other delicacy). Poutine is French fries, cheese curds, donair, and gravy all put together. It was sooooo stinking good, I'd have it again in a heartbeat.

During our exchange, it was Remembrance Day, there was a big ceremony. so we have been wearing poppies on us at all times to show that we remember the fallen soldiers. I don't know any fallen soldiers, but I did remember all those we have lost. It's really comforting to know we will see them all again because of the Plan of Salvation. 

Saturday while we were tracting we found a porcupine.. that was pretty cool. Sadly it was dark so we didn't get good pictures, but y'all know what one looks like anyway. Earlier that day, we tracted into a nice Filipino man and his wife, Arwin and Lisa. We taught them about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they were very understanding. She has some brain issues so she wasn't able to participate much in the lesson, but arwin loved it. Basically a lot of Filipino families will let you in if you say Jesus Christ. 

Sunday, our stake presidency came to our branch because we have a new member of the stake presidency. His name is President Lowry. He got up and bore his testimony and seemed to be staring right at me as he told the story of his parents conversion. Then afterwards, he said, still staring right into my eyes, "Don't ever underestimate what you do." I took that to heart. What we do and say as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaves a huge effect on people. Whether you're a missionary or not, you will leave an impression on them. So I encourage you to treat people kindly and let others know what church you belong to. Dare to be Mormon! 

I love you guys! Hope everything is going well, and that you are recognizing the hand of Heavenly Father in your life! 

Love, 

Elder Potato

Elder Trevor J. Wells

Canada Edmonton Mission

2 Nephi 31:20 

Pictures: 

1. Bonnie Doon Zone 🏼

2. Bunch of weird missionaries

3. More weird missionaries

4. Donair Poutine (forget the syrup, this is the best Canadian food) 

5. Something to take into consideration