Come Listen to the Prophet's Voice

My two cool comps :D Elder Collett is not impressed.
(Elder Collett also did drum line)

 The whole reason I'm out here :)

 Anyone for Chess?

 Alyssa should do senior pics out here :D

Good looking kid

 Trying to escape. AHA!

The leaves <3

 The building we meet in :))) Had to take it for our facebook page :)) Hopefully I get on FB this week

                                                                                 I would make you so proud Mom 

 Elder Collett laying down the law at our Family History Presentation

We got the brethren together for the priesthood session for a dinner

I freaking love knocking

Inbox

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Richard McGuire	Oct 6 (2 days ago)

Dear Family,

It was a splendid week this week knowing that we were able to listen to the general authorities at the end of it. I'll talk about general conference a little later after I talk about my week. I am loving personal study. If I could have six hours to study then I think I would be prepared for the rest of the day. Personal scripture study really made conference that more enjoyable. I got so much from every talk because a lot of the same scriptures were referenced which therefore means the Spirit was guiding the message. I have vamped up my personal study because I heard a quote from one of the Zone Leaders. This was after we got in a new batch of missionaries and one Elder complained that he was assigned to speak English. To quote Elder Johnson, "You can either be a linguist or you can be a scriptorian." This statement was reaffirmed by Elder Packer when he said that "It doesn't how many languages we speak or how many countries of the world we are in, what matters is Spiritual strength."

I have been quite blessed this week. Juicing every day is the brightest idea because it saves on cash and gives me a ton of energy to keep up with the demands of missionary work (change of plan, I think I'll relate everything from my week to a talk at general conference). I loved Elder Klebigat and his adomonition that we need to have our bodies as pure temples. The Spirit cannot reside with us if we are binging on carbs and loser calories. I would also like to admit that Jorg Klebingat is probably the sassiest general authority to get up there. Nevertheless, his words ring true.

This increased energy continues to kindle my love for Maine. Maine is the promised land. I really really want to serve there because New England is so gorgeous! I can't believe I would ever say that, but it's true! Maine is the coolest state in America. We were street contacting in Calais which to be honest was about as productive as nailing jello to the ocean. After about 2 hours of walking and only 4 contacts, I felt as if we were wasting our time. Elder Collett then said that we should go back to Canada because street contacting is usually better in St. Stephen. Just before we got to the border, we all got the impression that our time in Calais wasn't over.

We stopped at the Marden's in Calais to do some store contacting. Not much luck and I felt like the prompting was more of my thoughts than the Spirit itself. However, as we were leaving the store we talked to a couple who wasn't interested, but told us to check out Monroe and Lowell street for people. This is in the heart of the ghetto of Maine. Yes, there's a ghetto in Maine. I knocked a few houses, ran into some more lesbian pagans. Apparently there's a sizable population in these parts. Interesting conversation and they weren't interested. Then we knocked into this one house.

I knocked on the door and clearly no one was home, as we walked away this car pulled up to the garage. Thinking these people were the owners of that house we walked over to strike up conversation. They were definitely not there because it was there house. One man ran into the garage and the other wouldn't roll down his window. Then after an unsuccessful conversation with the man coming out of the garage, another car pulled up. Same thing happened as I described above. Then it donned on me. I knocked into the Calais drug house...

But we still felt like we needed to be in Calais. Walking down Monroe we ran into one lady named Taaliyah and she's interested! Her family met with missionaries in the past and they are all southern black Baptists who love Mormons! Hurray! While we were talking to Taaliyah-whaddup doe-a couple of JW's came by in there car and were like "Hey I got a question for you! What's God's name?" I responded with "God" and he was like "No! It's Jehovah." JWs approach to missionary work is pretty pathetic. *claps for you.

After some more potentials we ran into one man who seemed homeless and disabled but he was genuinely interested. Dennis is so cool because he's very knowledgable about American History and I hadn't realized, but I knew enough to hold a conversation with him. He's interested in the Book of Mormon, but as we were talking to him it came out that he feels really guilty about some things he's done in the past. He wants to come to church but he can't get across the border. That's a big problem with the work around here because when people want to come to church they sometimes can't get over the border. Please pray for Dennis that he'll be able to figure out his border paperwork.

Surprise the library is kicking us off!

Quick notes

We picked up another investigator! Jim is a total redneck but wants to come to church. He loves how family oriented the church is.

I loved the words from Elder Kacher about the riptides and forces in this life. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers.

Load that MP3 player with as many songs of MoTab as you can and send it to me :D

I've been thinking a lot about Allen's situation and the talk "That We May Not shrink" by Elder Bednar is very very good. He may have read it, but it applies directly to his situation.

I love you all!!!!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!

Elder McGuire

First Transfer Down!!

Dear Family,                                             September 29, 2014

What a crazy week! I'm sorry I didn't take a whole ton of pics, the leaves are changing and it's absolutely gorgeous! Mom, you would be in heaven out here. I swear heaven will look like Atlantic Canada without all of the cold and druggies. We were on our way over to Maine this morning for emailing when we got stopped at the border for the random inspection that they do. Haha, I bet they were disappointed when they saw missionaries rolling up for the drug-check. Took about an hour and this area as I have mentioned is filled with drug trafficking. Canada is safe don't worry :)

The chill has become to come up full-time. We are heading out to Fredericton for Zone Training this week so that's when I'll be buying my winter gear. The coveted coat out here is a Canadian Goose. I'm going to get one because when we were back in Moncton with the other Moncton Elders, Elder Johnson had one, and wow, you could sleep standing up in that thing it's so comfy. There's also some other options for coats, but if it doesn't have an Antarctica seal of approval on it, we aren't allowed to get it. It's supposed to be a particularly cold winter from what I have heard from the people I've spoken to.

When I tell people I'm from Arizona, they're like "Oh you're in for a treat!" Then I try to explain that I was raised in the mountains and they just smile. I've been fair warned, Canadian winters are apparently intense.

Elder Collett and I are continuing to move along the revelation we have received for this area. Lots and lots of service which I love doing. I can't wait until we do what is referred to as "Snow Shoveling Contacting"-we dig people out so that we can teach them about the Restored Gospel :))) I'm excited because some of you might know I love to shovel snow, but then again, this is Canadian snow, and fourteen feet is the average. Woohooooooooooo

I'm having a little bit of a rough time talking to all these Born-Agains. It's a large concentrated area, even outside of St. Stephen. All they want to do is bash and argue and I have a huge temptation with arguing the Gospel. We were in St. Andrewson Tuesday (Definitely taking you all there if we ever tour this mission), doing some street contacting, and I was just tired and didn't have the Spirit and talking to people wasn't going well. My tone was very unhappy which isn't conducive to being a representative of Christ. Needless to say we were headed back to the car when two men approached us out of the tavern and I stopped them. Explained who we were and tried to get the ball rolling. This one man came at me with the whole "saved by grace" thing (Sidenote: we were stacking books at the library and I found this children's book about a girl going to a new school and it was called "Just Grace" Elder Collett and I got a kick out of that") and I just didn't want to hear it. I rebuked him rather unpolitely and it was a low point for me. Elder Collett chastised me pretty hard and told me if I don't have the Spirit with me when I'm talking to people then I can't be a missionary. Very humbling.

We then went over to Sister Bubniuk for scones. She's a less-active woman who is so nice! She told me not to worry about what happened because I will be steadfast and firm in my beliefs as I continue to study the scriptures. You might even know of her, Mom. She's Irene Bubniuk the concert pianist. She had a stroke, but we talked music for a little bit which is something I really needed that afternoon. Lots and lots of less-active visits this week. We had 8 less-active/recent convert lessons which was a huge blessing.

On Thursday we drove up to St. John to pick up Elder Wolvers. He's got a huge testimony and is great at relating to everyone whom we speak with. He's the Canadian of the bunch and is therefore the most polite (Sidenote: I've begun to start saying eh, pardon, sorry, and right-pronounced 'rate' out here in New Brunswick). He's come from an even rougher spot than I was a year ago and he is a rock. Elder Wolvers has ADHD and a little bit of Asbergers, but he makes everyone we talk to laugh. I'm excited to have probably the next 12 weeks with him.

Speaking of Born-Agains, we ran into some nice ones this week! (2 out of 80ish) One was a trucker from BC who was really into Family History until he got stranded here in St. Stephen. He was very kind to us and wants to come out to the workshop we're having in a few days. He politely tries to bash with us, but I think he just needed some intelligent conversation after being on the road for so long. Another Born-again we talked to was this very nice woman who really opened up about her past and was giving us all these compliments. Then Elder Wolvers invited her for a church tour and she was so two-faced "I'm trying really hard to be nice right now!" We now openly quote her as a companionship. It's good to have some inside-jokes to keep the morale up.

Thank you all for your prayers for Brother Al Wood. I could see a change in him this week as we talked about The Plan of Salvation. He reminds me a lot of Grandpa McGuire. He's very humble, a little older, and loves Elvis. Unfortunately, he has gotten back into some old habits he quit before his baptism. We're trying to get him off of coffee and him to pay his tithing. He'll come around, but please keep praying for him.

This upcoming transfer I've been inspired with a lot of goals. President Leavitt is great at getting us motivated to work smart and hard as missionaries. We all form visions-what we want something to become-ourselves, compansionhip, the area, the district, the zone, the mission. And then create goals, then plans, and a way to monitor those visions to accomplish them. My vision for this transfer is "A business-minded scriptorian." I'm going to be memorizing a scripture a day (Sidenote:this is an apostolic promise that President Monson has made, if I do this diligently, I'll come home with a photographic memory) and juicing and eating nuts to keep my energy up. I'm tired of being tired all of the time. I'm so excited for this transfer.

Kind of a funny story. So I'm juicing, right and we have ran out of fruit and most of our carrots. So I decided that I'd juice peppers and onion. Literally was the dumbest thing I have done for myself. It was like the ear-frankinscense thing all over again except for my stomach. Wow was I in so much pain good gravy. NEVER juice an onion whatever you do. whatever you do.

My favorite scripture for the week is 2 Nephi 9:41

 41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I love you all!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Elder McGuire

Pictures from St. Stephen

 St. Stephen at night

 The old mill, after which Milltown is named and some street we were knocking the other day

 At St. Croix island...

 Elder Collett and I attempting to juice, and some more scenery. We are going buy a juicer later today!!

Me totally owning this grand master. We play chess with the St. Stephen chess club every Friday night for a finding activity. I got whooped

 My fantastic companions :D

Missionaries in St. Stephen!! Like us on Facebook :D And the leaves have started to change!! Mom you would be in heaven out here it's so gorgeous!!

First Transfer Down!!

Inbox

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Richard McGuire	Sep 29 (9 days ago)

Dear Family,

What a crazy week! I'm sorry I didn't take a whole ton of pics, the leaves are changing and it's absolutely gorgeous! Mom, you would be in heaven out here. I swear heaven will look like Atlantic Canada without all of the cold and druggies. We were on our way over to Maine this morning for emailing when we got stopped at the border for the random inspection that they do. Haha, I bet they were disappointed when they saw missionaries rolling up for the drug-check. Took about an hour and this area as I have mentioned is filled with drug trafficking. Canada is safe don't worry :)

The chill has become to come up full-time. We are heading out to Fredericton for Zone Training this week so that's when I'll be buying my winter gear. The coveted coat out here is a Canadian Goose. I'm going to get one because when we were back in Moncton with the other Moncton Elders, Elder Johnson had one, and wow, you could sleep standing up in that thing it's so comfy. There's also some other options for coats, but if it doesn't have an Antarctica seal of approval on it, we aren't allowed to get it. It's supposed to be a particularly cold winter from what I have heard from the people I've spoken to.

When I tell people I'm from Arizona, they're like "Oh you're in for a treat!" Then I try to explain that I was raised in the mountains and they just smile. I've been fair warned, Canadian winters are apparently intense.

Elder Collett and I are continuing to move along the revelation we have received for this area. Lots and lots of service which I love doing. I can't wait until we do what is referred to as "Snow Shoveling Contacting"-we dig people out so that we can teach them about the Restored Gospel :))) I'm excited because some of you might know I love to shovel snow, but then again, this is Canadian snow, and fourteen feet is the average. Woohooooooooooo

I'm having a little bit of a rough time talking to all these Born-Agains. It's a large concentrated area, even outside of St. Stephen. All they want to do is bash and argue and I have a huge temptation with arguing the Gospel. We were in St. Andrews on Tuesday (Definitely taking you all there if we ever tour this mission), doing some street contacting, and I was just tired and didn't have the Spirit and talking to people wasn't going well. My tone was very unhappy which isn't conducive to being a representative of Christ. Needless to say we were headed back to the car when two men approached us out of the tavern and I stopped them. Explained who we were and tried to get the ball rolling. This one man came at me with the whole "saved by grace" thing (Sidenote: we were stacking books at the library and I found this children's book about a girl going to a new school and it was called "Just Grace" Elder Collett and I got a kick out of that") and I just didn't want to hear it. I rebuked him rather unpolitely and it was a low point for me. Elder Collett chastised me pretty hard and told me if I don't have the Spirit with me when I'm talking to people then I can't be a missionary. Very humbling.

We then went over to Sister Bubniuk for scones. She's a less-active woman who is so nice! She told me not to worry about what happened because I will be steadfast and firm in my beliefs as I continue to study the scriptures. You might even know of her, Mom. She's Irene Bubniuk the concert pianist. She had a stroke, but we talked music for a little bit which is something I really needed that afternoon. Lots and lots of less-active visits this week. We had 8 less-active/recent convert lessons which was a huge blessing.

On Thursday we drove up to St. John to pick up Elder Wolvers. He's got a huge testimony and is great at relating to everyone whom we speak with. He's the Canadian of the bunch and is therefore the most polite (Sidenote: I've begun to start saying eh, pardon, sorry, and right-pronounced 'rate' out here in New Brunswick). He's come from an even rougher spot than I was a year ago and he is a rock. Elder Wolvers has ADHD and a little bit of Asbergers, but he makes everyone we talk to laugh. I'm excited to have probably the next 12 weeks with him.

Speaking of Born-Agains, we ran into some nice ones this week! (2 out of 80ish) One was a trucker from BC who was really into Family History until he got stranded here in St. Stephen. He was very kind to us and wants to come out to the workshop we're having in a few days. He politely tries to bash with us, but I think he just needed some intelligent conversation after being on the road for so long. Another Born-again we talked to was this very nice woman who really opened up about her past and was giving us all these compliments. Then Elder Wolvers invited her for a church tour and she was so two-faced "I'm trying really hard to be nice right now!" We now openly quote her as a companionship. It's good to have some inside-jokes to keep the morale up.

Thank you all for your prayers for Brother Al Wood. I could see a change in him this week as we talked about The Plan of Salvation. He reminds me a lot of Grandpa McGuire. He's very humble, a little older, and loves Elvis. Unfortunately, he has gotten back into some old habits he quit before his baptism. We're trying to get him off of coffee and him to pay his tithing. He'll come around, but please keep praying for him.

This upcoming transfer I've been inspired with a lot of goals. President Leavitt is great at getting us motivated to work smart and hard as missionaries. We all form visions-what we want something to become-ourselves, compansionhip, the area, the district, the zone, the mission. And then create goals, then plans, and a way to monitor those visions to accomplish them. My vision for this transfer is "A business-minded scriptorian." I'm going to be memorizing a scripture a day (Sidenote:this is an apostolic promise that President Monson has made, if I do this diligently, I'll come home with a photographic memory) and juicing and eating nuts to keep my energy up. I'm tired of being tired all of the time. I'm so excited for this transfer.

Kind of a funny story. So I'm juicing, right and we have ran out of fruit and most of our carrots. So I decided that I'd juice peppers and onion. Literally was the dumbest thing I have done for myself. It was like the ear-frankinscense thing all over again except for my stomach. Wow was I in so much pain good gravy. NEVER juice an onion whatever you do. whatever you do.

My favorite scripture for the week is 2 Nephi 9:41

 41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I love you all!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Elder McGuire

Well, she did it!

This is part of my letter to Rick this week---

Dear Elder McGuire,

I have never been to a sweeter baptism in my life.  The spirit hit me so powerfully from literally the moment I stepped into that room.  I wept through the whole thing. I have so many stories to tell!  

We had arranged to pick Sarah up at her dorm on Friday night and go out to dinner.  We went to PF Changs.  She had never been there before and was so delighted with how good everything was and how fancy everything was presented.  During our wait for a table she noticed the sister missionaries there.  What a coincidence!  It was fun to meet them. 

Sister Ah Sue (from Hawaii) told us how receptive she is with learning how prayer works and recognizing a prompting.  This week she had lots of tests and one day was prompted to take some extra batteries with her.  She did and sure enough, someone at the test was asking if anyone had brought batteries.  Sarah was the only one who had some so she gave them to him.  

No one knew who we were so I introduced ourselves as "Sarah dated our son in High School".  I told Sis. Ah Sue that it was sincerely an act of faith for Rick to leave on his mission and leave Sarah up to the Lord.  I could tell that struck a personal chord with her....the courage to come on a mission and leave the rest up to the Lord.  She then told me how they had no one in their appointment book, but had been promised that there would be many people for them to teach who had been prepared to receive the gospel.  In walks Miss Azarh to enroll in a Book of Mormon class.  You bet the missionaries were all over that.  Sister Ah Sue said it was funny to begin inviting people to Sarah's baptism.  Everyone kept saying, "Sarah who?"  "Sarah Azarh."  "Oh!  She's not a member?"  They wrote us the sweetest note that included the scripture Alma 13:24-- 

 24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

They thanked us, and I would include you Rick, for being those angels.  Count this as your first baptism.

I have never wanted to take a picture/video so badly in my life.  If I could've bottled up the nerve she showed to get up in front of everyone, walk through that door and into the font it would've moved a mountain.  I have seen your Dad overcome with emotion only a handful of times in my life.  This was one of those moments.  So much courage and determination.  We take so much for granted when we think of doing hard things and knowing that we will have the family support to back it up.  It was truly amazing to watch.  When she bore her testimony she was as calm and confident as I have ever seen her....more tears =) I was so proud of her.


comic relief-----You know how Dad hesitates to state his opinion because I have usually already decided what I want us to do? Early on in my weeping fest I knew the tears weren't going to stop any time soon and I was feeling awkward and wondering where we should sit.  Dad had already calmly led us to the third row.  Sarah was perfectly fine in the front row with the sister missionaries and she kept turning around to check on me.  I kept assuring her with a smile or a thumbs up that I was ok, but still, I'm sure I didn't help her nerves any.  In exasperation Dad said," We are just fine right here",  to which I replied, "We're not a family"  (because we're not sitting on the front row right by Sarah). He has the patience of Job.  Alyssa is sending pictures.  They will make your day.



Rick's response:

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fasted so hard on Thursday. It was rough because we were having district meeting and Sister Gordon and Elder Gordon (sweetest senior couple) made a huge lunch that I had to pass up. But I knew that I could do it. I knelt down to say my prayers on Saturday night and just cried I was so happy. God is so real and he loves all of us. I'm just lost for words right now, but I couldn't be happier. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for being there for Sarah. That means a lot to me and I know that she really appreciates your support. The Gospel blesses lives, it's as simple as that. The last three verses of Matthew 11 are so beautiful (as is Sarah ;) ). I know that this Church is True!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew 11:28-30

 28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek andlowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

By Small and Simple Things

By Small and Simple Things

Inbox

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Richard McGuire	Sep 22 (6 days ago)
to Pernell, me, Sarah, Alyssa

Dear Family,

Can I just say...HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I fasted so hard on Thursday for Sarah. We had district meeting in Fredericton that day and as soon as I woke up I had the worst headache. The Gordons from Alberta drove us and Elder Gordon being a pharmacist had lots of things that could have cleared me up and taken my headache away, but I knew that if this was going to be the only fast I ever did in my life, that I needed to make this one count. Finally, after a ton of prayer and time, I broke my fast and just cried I was so happy. On Saturday night, I knelt down to say my personal prayers and cried, offering up a prayer of gratitude.

I've noticed that truly we don't see God until after a trial of our faith. This morning during personal study, the question came to my mind "What does it mean to be faithful?" First we have to understand what faith is before we can understand what it means to be faithful. To have faith is to act in accordance to the word of God. Thus (sidenote, thus is the coolest word in the English language), to be faithful means that we are full of acts that are in accordance to the word of God, or the commandments.

We have been immensely blessed this week. During our time here in St. Stephen the emailing situation has been interesting. No libraries are open and we got kicked out at about an hour last week so I apologize for not being on for the whole time. We have found a library in the promised land (America) so we should be able to do this for my time here in Canada's Chocolate town. Sidenote: I've noticed I've become weirdly patriotic towards America. America is like a younger sibling to me. It's okay for me to make fun of it, but I get defensive when Canadians make fun of America.

Elder Collett and I will be buying a juicer soon and we'll also be in a trio with this upcoming transfer. Our apartment is a little interesting. It's not exactly an apartment, more of a townhouse so we have plenty of room for our new companion, but the place is so old and smells of mildew. Our new comp is Elder Wolvers from Alberta. He's been out two more transfers than me. We got transfer letters the other day and President has warned me that I could be training next transfer because of all the missionaries going home. No pressure.

We are trying to integrate into the community as maybe I have aforementioned. We will trying to set up Family History Workshops bi-weekly in New Brunswick and in Maine if the libraries cooperate (they're feisty people). Furthermore, we have been volunteering at the food banks in Calais and in St. Stephen so lots of people see us which is great. We're trying to raise the profile of the church here considering it's quite the Baptist place.

Wickers and maritimers in general are interesting people.  They're so friendly and open and will tell you everything about anything they know. I have come up with a song that I sing to Elder Collett after every contact we make.

To the tune of Pioneer Children:

Ma-ri-ti-mers yapped as they talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked!

We were stacking wood for the ward clerk who lives in St. Andrews and this man could talk for three hours about cedar trees and soft wood and how he got jipped when he bought it. The wood piles out here make out wood pile look like a pile of toothpicks. It's going to be a cold winter ;D He's just going on and on and on and in my mind I'm thinking "Brother Simmonds calm down it's all wood it's all going to burn, good gravy man!" The Nova Scotian suck is so cool! Ask Bishop about that. They inhale when they say yes.

We're also involved in the various community activities (I freaking love this place). We play soccer with the university students on Monday nights (check out St. Stephen University online, they literally all live in one house and do all of their learning and eating in there, all 55 of em) and are duly embarrassed because neither one of us play soccer. Also on Friday nights we go and play chess with some provincial players. Got whooped in three turns ahhh yihhh. Overall, people are recognizing us and if you can't baptize people (unless they're Sarah and amazing) you can at least soften hearts and plant seeds.

Milltown (practically Saint Stephen, but a little down the way, actually where we live) is a different place. I don't think you'll have to worry about me serving in the Bronx, Mom, I'm already here. New Brunswick is kind of like the Louisiana of the states. Very southern redneck feel to it and a TON of drugs. Everyone we talk to is either high or about to get high.

Nevertheless, Pilltown, I mean Milltown has blessed us with plenty of potentials. We got 7, count em, potentials, and 4 referrals!!!! That just doesn't happen around here. In weeks past we would probably get only a referral once a week and maybe a few potentials. I can feel your prayers softening hearts.

Your prayers have even softened enough hearts in Milltown to where we have TWO NEW INVESTIGATORS!!!!! AHHHH!!!! They are the MacKnights and they are very similar to Dad and Mom (I'm becoming a Wicker with pronouncing 'mom' as 'mum'). Bob just retired from the RCMP and Lynn loves to feed people! They are so nice and their home is like a 180 from some of the homes around here (which are very Victorian but run down). Bob is a lot like you Dad because he reads a lot and asks really good questions. We had a question and answer for about 40 minutes and they invited us back for supper (dinner is for capitalist Americans) and talk more about the Book of Mormon!!!

We have also been stacking wood for a total Maritimer named Bernard. He loves riding motorcycles and speaks like a redneck Scotsman (I's a appreciate ya for stacking me's wood) Awesome man. He wants to take us to Blacks Harbour for some good picture spots and then we're taking him to Bishop's house for dinner and hopefully a lesson. He's so kind and so cool! Maritimers have the largest hearts, but a lot of pride.

Probably the humblest man I've met is a recent-convert we are teaching, Brother Al Wood. He's 68, but loves learning about the Gospel. He has a rough time with his clients as he is a taxi and drives around a lot of people on drugs. If you could please pray for him specifically that would really help out.

Speaking of praying specifically for people, pray for your missionaries by name daily! They appreciate it so much and it's like night and day with the work when members are involved.

Thank you so so so so much for the prayers and letters that you send each week. It really uplifts me. My favorite scripture from the week is found in Doctrine and Covenants 123:16. Sidenote: I love scriptures and church stuff now that applies to the sea and lighthouses.

"You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves."

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

BY SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE GREAT THINGS BROUGHT TO PASS

Love,

Elder McGuire