Week 48: Weekend Getaway

Well hello there,

This week was pleasant! 

Might as well start with the climax. We had a weekend trip to Brooks! A city 1 hour and 45 min from Lethbridge! We stayed in a vacant apartment next to the sisters there that the mission owns. We went to in person church for the first time since early March in Tahiti, met many members and a super super hype very recent convert who only really speaks french. We were supposed to teach a bit but they got cancelled. That's actually why we went. For the french work, as there are many french immigrants there! I connected with the 21 year old recent convert super well! We are gonna teach him in French so he better understands everything! It felt like we stayed in a hotel and I took a lot of stuff other missionaries had left behind, like a hydro flask, a blanket, candy, cosmetics, cleaning supplies etc. It was a fun getaway and drive! 

The other highlight of this week was in person backyard member visits! They are so fun. We had Sunday that went dinner at 6 (ribs), a zoom lesson with Xander and the families kids at 7, then a volleyball , foursquare, spike ball vibe game at 7:30 for an hour and a half w the whole fam. All at the same big backyarded house. It was soo fun and we got tight w the members. It was a great night! It's so fun in English and in canada with members! We've had so many great visits. 

Animal wise, we saw a deer. Huge antlers and all. Running around "downtown".  We followed it a bit. It was funny. Don't see that in Toronto often! 

I held a lizard as well and the parrot again

I was finally able to get in touch with Terehau (and Mami Anna) from Tahiti. First time since March! Terehau said she's waiting for me and wilk to be baptized (we are gonna try and convince her sooner but its sweet). She has been to church every week and visits w missionaries three times a week. Mami anna and Terehau were definitely a big reason why I served in Pare. I wasn't the happiest when I got put there in Tahiti at first, but I'm seeing so much in retrospect that i was there for a reason and I see the people I influenced . I'm also here for a reason in canada and Lethbridge. I think Xander has something to do with that. It may not make sense in the moment, but I've come to know there's a reason for everything and we are where we need to be when we need to be. Gods plan everyone. It's hard, but I've been trying to trust it more haha. 

Hope everyone has a great week! 

Love,

Elder Fiore

1. Water balloon fight with district

2. Deer

3. drive to Brooks

4.Potato

5.me

Other pictures:

Week 47: Happy Birthday from around the world

Hello! 

This week actually went by fast! It's crazy how time flies with no bad anxiety every morning! It's been way better. Finally I can relate to people saying missions go by fast! Can't believe I've already been gone for almost a month! 

The highlight of this week was easily in person visits and dinners! We had quite a few and met some really awesome families. It led to nice long, fun visits that always leave me feeling so pumped and happy. The families here are so great! I've left like 5 families saying they're the best and so awesome! It's been so so good. We've talked quite a bit about toronto which I like too. Everyone has a connection there. It's nice. 

We invited Xander to baptism this week and I did it in the most awkward way then asked like 3 more times to confirm. It was hype though. Work is progressing! Lots of service too! Shoveling, moving garbage, food bank, etc.

I also had my birthday this week which was actually good! We had zone conference like all day over zoom, but were allowed to watch with other missionaries in our area which made it actually fun. My district (group of missionaries) got me a surprise cake and a joke gift which was so nice! I also got my package from my mom and Rachael which made for a nice birthday morning! At the multi zone conference (so missionaries from a few different parts of southern alberta) the missionaries sang happy birthday to me in 5 languages! English, french, Spanish, tagalog, and Maori! I just kneeled on camera through all of it! President and sister Keung (my mission pres and wife) are so loving and caring. I can feel it here a lot more.

Other than that, I held a 55 year old parrot, free panago pizza is now a weekly thing on fridays after we volunteer at the food bank, and I got a mini name tag and it's so cute. I laugh everytime I see it. 

We gave priesthood blessings this week and it was a pretty spiritual experience. The person i blessed was crying after words and thanked me for being in tune with the spirit because what "i" said was exactly what she needed to hear and what she was thinking a lot about. That really touched me. Firstly that I was able to be an instrument in gods hands to help her and bring her some comfort and guidance. Secondly that I was ready and spiritually in tune, as she said, for when I was needed. It really showed me the power of the priesthood and blessings, and also.the importance of being in tune and worthy for when we are needed. It was a tender experience.

Hope everyone has a great week this week! 

Love,

Elder Fiore!!

1. Diner with the Burtons!

2. the ZONE. 

3. 55 year old parrot max. She doesn't like the cold 

4. Birthday balloons with the district

5. Birthday lunch with cake!

6. Pizza in trunks

Other photos:

Getting his Birthday package:

Week 46: Mask off, heckin mask off

Hello everyone! 

Another week done! Let's go

Firstly,  gotta shoutout Sam and Gabe who had birthdays this week. Also, Kierra whose birthday is the 12th next week(you're welcome kierra) and then of course mine monday the 13th . 

We are now allowed not to wear masks which I like as It was so annoying for lessons. So we are becoming slightly more open! 

I'll start with the free stuff as per usual. We got free panago and BOTTLE drinks again which was nice. I also got a HUGE bag of pins from the sister missionaries and then a smaller bag for free from Facebook marketplace. So I have a bunch of Canadian pins now for my collection! 

The crazy part of this week is that we drove 30 min north of Lethbridge to the town of Picture Butte to drop off a bible. It was a fun little road trip and changed up routine which was nice. I like visiting more places. 

Work is starting to pick up as well! I had planned to make a few ads for facebook marketplace, but was kind of pushing it off. Then Elder Cattran (cheeky shoutout) said his bible ads were going well. So that was motivation to actually do it and it has been great! We have delivered 15 and got 4 others delivered through other missionaries. I love giving people the opportunity to get closer to Christ through the bible, and of course the free book of mormon we throw in. We also found a french speaking family of 5 that may want to meet again. Their english wasn't good so I was worried they wouldn't really.understand much with other missionaries. So I asked after we met via text what their first language was and he said french! So we can properly teach them and talk! So exciting. 

We also found the hypest 14 year old named Xander. We knocked on his door looking for his mom, but he answered. I felt prompted to give him a book of mormon, so I offered, he said "nah I'm atheist" I said "take it anyway, read it and we can come back next week", and he said okay! We've done three lessons with him now and it turns out he just has a lot of questions that we are now answering. He has a desire to actually learn and it's so great. I love him so much! I also 1v1ed Xandrer's brother (if I won he had to join the lesson). Two crazy dunks later he was sitting with us praying. Rim being 6 feet helped I think. Who knows.

Lastly, we made a hype video yesterday so check that out on Fb. I wouldn't be surprised if I got transferred to the Hollywood mission!

The work is definitely slower and easier (physically and mentally) here in Canada, but I know we are still helping people, whether online, with service or teaching. It's a unique time to be a missionary for sure but I trust God's plan for His work and children! It hasn't been too bad quarantine wise! We can still brighten days and change lives! 

Have a great week! 

Love, 

Elder Fiore

1.Road trip to picture butte! Taxes are due! that sign was everywhere
2. Its been pretty cold
3. panago pizza after food bank with members of the zone. FREE
4. The hype 14 year old xander. Hes lit. 

A few more pics:

A friend sent this picture from Facebook - they are allowed eating outside together!

I sent him some PJ's (nights are much cooler in Alberta than Tahiti! lol)

Love getting to talk to him without wifi connections. Having tech is such a blessing for us all!

Week 45: Members > Facebook

Hello everyone! Happy Canada day!

I'll start with some Canada themed things! Firstly, we met an 80 year old at the church who learned organ and piano in his late 60s. He played us a bunch of hymns and O canada! It was super nice. It's nice being in canada honestly.

Secondly, at the foodbank we put these canada packages together which was fun. Canada themed everything! Tattoos, plates, napkins, pins, table clothes etc! 

This week started out with Elder Moses throwing his phone on the ground due to a hard facebook question we received. $190 later his phone screen was back working. Seeing that money go pained me despite it not being mine.

On the cheaper side, we got free panago pizza with bottle drinks. Yes, bottle. Not can. It was crazy 

I also got a free tie by messaging someone selling ties on facebook. Maybe my subject should be the opposite? But he was a member. Hmm

Oh and I finished the  new testament for the first time! Revelations is actually so good wow

Alright, so work wise! It's been hard cause we aren't teaching many people and we can't visit due to covid. BUT we came up with a great member plan that has been working super well. I love the members  so much and it's been great. We've met a bunch of members over zoom (and asked to do consistent zooms) to just get to know them, talk about missionary work, and share a spiritual thought. They've loved it too and I've had an easy time connecting to every family! We had a miracle even. We asked a family if they've had any missionary experiences and the 15 year old said "my friend said he wants to be baptized and asked where he could learn more. But I didn't know where he could go!" Our visit cleared that up and we are gonna start teaching him! So excited. Finding people on facebook has been a bit harder and some people are so mean! 

We also met with an 87 year old woman who hadn't been to church in like 30 years. We had a beautiful yelled lesson through masks and hearing problems. It went super well though! I love bringing people back to church! We've been working hard with that too!

Last Thursday marked  6 months from christmas day, the dengue fever and easily the lowest part of my life. When elder moses pointed out 6 months from christmas I cried. That time still haunts me a little to be honest.  I never thought I could make it here. Never thought I'd be on a mission 6 months out from then. Never thought I'd make it out of that dark pit feeling how I am today. It's still hard, but It's incredible how far I've come and how much I've learned. I know I couldn't have done it alone. Without the support of family, friends, Christ, God, prayers, scriptures and everything. The hardest trials do end and leave us with the best lessons. God and Christ know what's best for us and will help us overcome anything and everything. Christ is there to carry our burdens with us and give strength. 

Hope everyone has a great Canada day and week! I love you all! 

Elder Fiore

1. Me in the coulees after breaking our fishing rod. I thought the view was nice
2. Me and Elder Munoz
3. Fort made from garbage. "Tourist attraction" here
4. Free pizza WITH BOTTLES
5. Pday hike! with some of the zone. They play games while I call home the rest of the day.

A few more pics: