THIS IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY. I REPEAT, THIS IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
You might think Canada, is just a "weird America". You are wrong.
Quebec is like its own country. It is so different. Beside having 536485378 languages, its soooo beautiful.
Especially the island of Montreal, where the mission home is
located. Let me tell you about my mission, the culture, and my
experiences within the 15 minutes I have to type this.
The mission: They told me the first day, that THIS IS a Baptizing
mission. The field is white and ready to harvest, and because that is
true, we tract 40% of the time and it works. Its so insane. The mission
president said that this mission has the "super soldier missionaries".
The missionaries who can take on the challenge. Its true, all the Elders
and Sisters I have met are spiritual giants within themselves. Crazy
stuff.
The history: So in the past, there was a rebellion against the
Catholic church. And all of Quebec rejected religion because it tried to
take over all of Quebec. Now, there are abannoned HUGE catholic
churches everywhere. Abannoned. They look so european and dope though.
The culture and people: In the City of Montreal, more people speak
smoothly and more modern French. In Ottowa, people speak more English.
The farther you go east, it is the country side of Quebec. Which
americans like to call "Texas French" or "Hick French". The people call
themselves the "QUEBEQUAS". The culture is awesome and the people speak
really fast. The first days it felt like purrrreeeeee chinese. Having a
Normandy France Native companion helps out a lot. He is 6 foot 6 and he
is so cool and diligent. He is also the district leader. Yup.
but also, the older people here are really against organized
religion and are soooo bitter about what happened in the past. They
really reject us and slam the doors. Theres A LOT of older people here. A
lot of veterans who went through all the religious mess.
but it is awesome, because a lot of the younger people are
HUNGRYYYY FOR the gospel. They are so prepared by the Lord, and we just
gotta knock and find them. A lot of people smoke and drink here its
crazy. We have a baptism in a week and we are so excited for Kareen.
The languages: So far, my language is going good. I gave my
testimony on my first Sunday (happy fathers day!) and the 28 year old
branch president told me I am the best "non-french speaking greenie" he
has had because of how well I speak. I still feel like a suck! anyway,
theres a TON of collumbian refugee's here and I gave an hour lesson to
yeny all in Spanish. I used both languages so much because my companion
knows very little spanish. We help out each other a lot. To survive as a
missionary here you have to be bilingual, I can't see any other way
haha. Anyways keep praying for my tongue to be loosened by the Lord.
The land: The land is beautiful, whole bunch of trees, whole bunch
of green, its been raining a lot but we still beast through the rain on
our backs. OUR AREA IS HUUUGGEEE and we are the only pair of
missionaries in Victoriaville. Crazynessss.
We get a new mission president next month. President Patrick. He's a
really rich man. Thats all I know. And he's coming from Florida with 4
kids. He was a CEO and dropped the bussiness to serve. So cool.
Lets see, what else.
oh yeah, the first door I knocked on, they let us in and we gave a
lesson. We were about to head home but then my companion invited my to
knock and thats what happened! haha! Begginners luck! Everything is in
French, the milk cartons, the signs, the stores, everything. The stop
lights are sideways, horizontal instead of vertical. The air is good
ummm... the church building is really cute and small. And I got eaten by
bugs doing a service project for a catholic family.
I'M LOVING EVERY SECOND OF THIS.
KEEP PRAYING FOR ME. I'M DOING GREAT. THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE.
