Did I Mention I'm Busing?

That's right. They took away my car. But I don't care! The Transit system is the most interesting thing. We will jump on a bus one minute (and I have no clue where we are going, this being my new area and all) and the next thing I know, we are at the right place at the right time.

But its not without its cons. We will often get stuck waiting for a bus for 15 minutes. And its freaking cold outside! Every time that happens, I want to chop off my toes!

Then one time, we jumped on the wrong bus... 1hr and 20 min later we got off that wrong bus and walked the rest of the way to our dinner appointment.

Then there is that second door.. Not the front one you get on, But the one in the back. My new Comp., Elder Chubak, told me that a lot of people have trouble with them because the button you are supposed to press is heat sensored, and they don't know that. Plus they close so in like 2 seconds and the bus driver dosen't check to see if everyone is off because he has stops to get to on time.

So... one time, Elder Chubak, and I was right behind him, but a little too slow, and the door shut. So I took off my glove, thinking I was so smart, and pressed the button.

Well, it didn't work and the bus drove off with me in it... No worries tho. I just got off at the next stop and he had to run to catch me.

I wondered what happened, and he told me that SOME of them were ones you had to press hard, and not heat sensors... You think he would have mentioned that sooner.

Don't Expect any Pictures

My camera sucks. It records sound... but won't play it back. I has a little black dot in the lens that is always there and shows up in all my pictures... And if that wasn't bad enough... the other day... it made me want to commit suicide.

I was looking through the manual, trying to figure out how to get the sound to play back, and found out how to use the menu a little better... So I was looking around and saw a little button that said Format.

Then I started to think... "Hey, I have some pictures from other peoples camera that wont show up on my screen... Possibly because they are in the wrong Format.. maybe this will fix that"

Famous last words.

My ENTIRE memory card is wiped clean... That is what FORMAT does. It DOSEN'T format the pictures.. IT ERASES THEM!

AHHHHHH!!!!! 5 months of my mission.. GONE, in a puff of smoke... So don't expect any photos soon... Or ever. I feel like giving up on taking pictures.. My anger is coming back as a write this.

Besides my journal, my pictures were the pride and joy of my mission so far! I have gone through them countless times, choosing which ones deserved to stay, and smiling and laughing at the memories... which are now gone...

[I am having Jeffery send my his card, so that I can recover as many pictures as possible.  For anyone who doesn't know, formatting and deleting don't actually remove the pictures from the card, they just remove them from the directory.]

With Thankful Hearts

This Thanksgiving was hard. With Elder Orton sick, I had nothing to do all week but think of you. Think of family and friends and everyone getting together.. and how I don't get to be a part of it.  But as we sat around Brother Zaharchuck's (our Ward Mission leader) table, he asked us "What is it your Thankful for?"

My comments were full of my family and the gospel. but as we went around, the missionaries who had been out longer than me spoke of the blessing it was to be here with them, to be in Brandon. And that got me thinking... I looked over at the missionaries, who were on one side of the table. They had all left family behind, they had all made the same sacrifice. Then I looked over at the other end of the table. At the Zaharchucks and the Craigs. They had given us so much. They had given the Lord so much. And they loved us enough, to invite us over to celebrate American Thanksgiving.. Huge feast and all!

I felt blessed. And I didn't miss home anymore. While I'm away, where ever I go, the ward will be my family. And I love them.

VICTORY

(Picture coming soon)

I killed the Part.

Bizzy, the First Nation Sensation

This week me and Elder Orton beat boxed with a drunk native.

(Video coming soon)

ELDER ORTON!

Transfer calls come at random... I was told they used to come at night on Tuesdays.. but not anymore. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME!

And it just so happens they came, completely unexpected, on Monday night. If President asks you to put it on speaker phone, you know you are staying where you're at.. if not..say goodbye to your comp.

He didnt ask for speaker phone this time..

Elder Tieken is now a Zone Leader. Good for him. It was surprisingly sad to be split up.

But I like my new comp a LOT.

I'm serving with ELDER ORTON! Who would have thought I'd serve with an Orton. And what do you know? He's just like an Orton! Well.. really similar, in the way that he is CRAZY!

He is THE most popular missionary in the mission. He is know as being one of the most FUN companions ever. And he's a GOOD missionary! (sounds like an ORTON)

He always gets along so good with the members and when he leaves, they always ask about him.

He knows every missionary and he know all the crazy stories about them. And now I do too. A few years ago, one of the sister missionaries tried to cast out a evil spirit from a drunk native by using the priesthood.. what?!

I've never "Liked" one of my companions before. Ive always "Tolerated" them. Who knew it would make such a difference! Im loving my mission right now! Me and Elder Orton are working hard AND having so much fun! I didnt know you could do both!

I'm lovin the Mish.

Old Fart

I meet a lot of interesting people every day. So I have had a lot of interesting experiences. Some are crazy, others are scary, and some are just funny.  The other day we contacted this old man on the street. He either called us "Bible bumpers" or "Bible humpers". Both of which indicate that he is not interested.   So we start to ask him if he know anyone in the area that could use any help or service. He goes on to tell us about one of his friends who is too indipendent to accept help. As he does so, he starts to fart every step he takes..   Two things factor in:  He is old and can't hear, so he probably thinks they are silent.  And, he is old and can't control his bowels.  But he just continues to talk like nothing is happening, and I am trying SO hard not to  bust up laughing.  Elder Tieken turns to me and starts to smile and I have to turn around at this point because I cant hide it anymore and tears are coming to my eyes.  When he finally leaves, we both took a moment to relieve our laughter, and get back to contacting.  All in a days work as a Missionary in the Canada Winipeg mission.