So as many may know or suspect, I got sent home from Tahiti at the very end of March due to Covid. I was happy to go and had a wonderful time at home, with family and friends. It was by far the easiest part of my mission and I'm gonna guess it will end up being the easiest part. It was very difficult leaving again, though, and I wasn't too excited, but I got reassigned to the Canada Calgary mission! I left last week, and have officially hit my one week mark here (10 months on my mission!)
My companion is from Nova Scotia which is hype as people love that we are both Canadian. It's rare. He is visa waiting for the States but has been here 8 months. I got in the car and asked where our sector was... 2 hours south in Lethbridge! My mom had predicted that exactly which is kind of insane.
My first night was very challenging and I wanted to go home. The classic "what did I get myself into, why did I come (back)" but since then it's been okay! My anxiety has been sooo much better than in Tahiti and it'll continue to get better with adjustment. I'm less anxious after one week here, than I was 6 months in Tahiti! I think the at home reset, technology and culture make it way easier! Unpacking the first night also helped a lot.
As far as the area, not a lot is going on. We don't teach very much and we are really trying to find some new people. We've also been trying to visit members, old people and people that don't come to church as often. It's hard with covid restrictions. The members I have met though are so awesome! The whole mission vibe and what we do is super different. It's been way more chill, but not time wasting which is nice. Every hour we do something good, just those things are easier lol. Days are easier here. And we get fed every night just like Tahiti! So hype I still don't have to cook! We also are starting the French program in the Calgary mission, so we are trying to get that set up and I even taught in french to the hypest Congolese guy! I was so happy to use my french here and am excited to set up a language program in a mission!
Some of you may be asking what we do in the day here? Well we study quite a bit, we hit people up, we teach, we go for walks (the Coulees here are beautiful and I find that bridge so cool!), we contact on facebook, make posts, and do lots of services! This past week we've volunteered at a food bank, soup kitchen, painted a deck fence, done some weeding, handed out Father's day treats, and other smaller things. I've loved doing service and making people's lives a little easier.
Last fun thing is that I had lunch with an elder (Kearl) who served in Tahiti! He was passing through, hit us up, and we had pizza in a park!
The one sad thing is that I haven't been able to wish on any stars as it's still bright at like 10!
To conclude, I've been thinking a lot about the statement "I can do it." Everyone says this statement is correct and we can do anything but I don't think that's true. I think "I can do it" is wrong. I can't do a lot. The wrong part of the statement though, isn't the can or can't, it's the "I". I cant do everything. But luckily it is literally NEVER "I". With God, Christ, Angels, support from friends and family, it is always WE. So I've changed my way of thinking that statement to a way that is always true: "we can do it." And that's a statement I think is always true. I didn't think I could come.back on a mission which brought so many trials my first time.out. I didn't think I could do it. But with all those supports, I am doing it. And it's going pretty alright.
I love you guys! Have a great week :)
Elder Fiore
1.President Keung, Elder Moses, Me, Sister Keung
2. Holding the lethBRIDGE
3. Zemenfes and ice cream sandwhiches
4. soup kitchen!
5. (Tying to) Change a flat tire
Mom's note: some more pics I thought I would include:
Arriving in Calgary:
Soup Kitchen
His apartment :
