Elder Masse

Elder Masse
Serving a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints August 2015-2017

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

March 30, 2016- "Great faith comes with great sacrifice", Easter, "Elder Masse...looks happy, he’s got a great companion who is willing to work and they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Thank you for sharing your son "

Comp: Elder Udave (Elder Navaret & Elder Shumway)
Area: Laval, Quebec
French & Spanish Speaking

You sound very happy! It sounds like your new area is great! Who are the other elders in your apt? How big is your ward? You only ride the metro and no car?

The other elders in my apartment are Elder Navaret and Elder Shumway! Elder Navaret is going home this transfer and Elder Shumway follows soon after in 2. They are soooo cool! we have so much fun! It is not as big as our other ward,  but in overall enlistment I think there is close to 400 with about half of them being active. 

So we have 1 metro but it really only leads to Montréal so we just use our car. Love you mom! Sorry we had a change in our Schedule due to easter and this is why I am emailing late.


1.  How do you like Laval?  How is it different from Mont St Hilaire?
2. Tell me the names of all the missionaries in your apt!  
3. Is your ward bigger?  How is it different? 
4. How do you like riding the metro?  What places do you go most often?  
5. What made you laugh?
6. Tell me about your apartment, the new apartment you're moving to (when?) and the elevator ?? 
7. Where did you go and who did you see this week and/or teach??
8. What is something you love about your family and being a Masse?
9. What are you looking forward to?




I GOT IT TODAY! He was soooo happy! yay!

1- IT IS SO AWESOME! I love it so much! We have a big ward and I am right at home! We are super close to Montréal so there is a lot of people and a lot of diversity and everything is just so perfect! There is a lot more people here and I find that they are a lot more open it is more "wild" Here so to say. It is not really a retirement community where as Mont St Hilaire was so it was a pretty quiet closed of town. Here there are people everywhere and just soo much to do all the time! Along with every language you could ever think of.

2- So there is Elder Navaret who is from Wisconsin and he is the best! He is so funny and We laugh so much together! I am quite sad though because this is his last transfer but, because of this he is going out with a bang and we have been having so much fun!
 His companion is Mission famous Elder Shumway! He is the sweetest missionary you will ever meet all the sisters fall for him. He has more money than anyone else in the mission almost Canada because he is very thrifty AND! He is also known as the cleanest Elder in the Mission so our apartment is quite on point! I love them both so much!
 They are also both fatastic cooks so we eat quite well!
Elder Udave oh I could write you a book about how amazing he is! He similarly is a good cook and I don't think I have met someone that has made me laugh so much! We have so much fun together! He is really good at French, he also speaks Spanish and English so we are able to speak in different languages all the time and put in good practice! Our apartment is the BOMB! We are also moving soon so that will be quite the job but with Elder Shumway we will probably end up with a mansion for like $500 a month haha.

3- It is a lot bigger than mont st hilaire but not bigger than back home. There is only like 3 Young men but there is like 12 Young women. Pretty good ratio for them I guess but every week we get to help with the sacrament because of this. There is a good ammount of all the other Quorums though! It is so fun! our bishop is like 33 and all his children are Under... 11 I believe. But he speaks English and he is a boss! Our ward mission leader is also super awesome! Ahh I love our ward.

4- I dont ride them too often but.. When I do beri-ucam. It is the biggest station and there is just underground malls and stores and it is so cool! I love them a lot though! Well when they arent just super super packed. Because then you can talk to people and just go wherever you want. It is pretty fun! They arewell organized as well so and there aren't as many people as Paris so it is perfect. They are a lot more relaxed than the ones in Paris.

5- Everything? Every day I smile and laugh. I was able to find an old cribbage board in our apartment! So we have been using that but seriously every moment is spent laughing we tell stories and make jokes it is so fun! Sorry I am running out of time because we have an appointment soon so i might end up responding with shorter responses.. I will try and get photos but If I dont I will send you a bunch next monday first thing.

6- It wasn't the elevator for the apartment but for the Metros.
 Our apartment is really nice but I am sure we will get another nice one but ours doesn't have an elevator it is only 2 stories.

7- My companion was still sick this last week so we didn't get to do as much as we wanted but! We still get to do some teaching. Our area is super dense soo.. Honestly I am still pretty lost even though I am driving haha.. But, I could really only tell you some of the poeople that we visit.

8- EVERYTHING! It is what has made me who I am and it has been defining me even more as a missionary. Everyday I am asked about my name and everyday I get to tell them who I am where I come from. Does it get any better? Oh I also found some a Massé Family here in Laval but.. that story will have to wait until next week!

9- Everything the future! To learn spanish and more of French to find teach! Everything! Sorry I am out of time but next week I have a lot of stuff for you

Okay so I have a lot for next week because well I went to Montréal and I got to spend the whole day with elder vanaquer and my last district! How much better does it get? as well as I got a whole night with Elder Vanaquer because he went on exchanges with the other Elders! It was so cool I will tell you all of it next week Love you!

-Elder Massé



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Hello, Sister Masse – There was a change in P-day this week because Easter Monday is a holiday in Quebec and the libraries would not be open for the missionaries to email home. Tuesday was to be P-day, but what I think happened with E. Masse   - His companion had a doctor’s appointment in Montreal on Tuesday, they left early and got home in time to be missionaries again at 6.  
I saw Elder Massé on Tuesday as they ran in to the office to make sure medical bills would get paid and ran out again. He looked GREAT!!! He looks happy, he’s got a great companion who is willing to work and they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Thank you for sharing your son –
Sister Hatfield
Canada Montréal Mission Office



Dear Dad, 
 I have always respected your great faith dad. I hope that one day i will be able to have a similar faith but I know that it has come with sacrifice.

Thank you dad. You always know what to say!

I have some stuff coming for you in the mail soon I just need to buy a box first to get it there. I love you dad Have a great week

-Love Elder Massé 


Hi Son,   It's not clear to me yet why we are here.  All I have is the trust I give my Heavenly Father. That trust is based on every other experience where he's seen me through and made my life great. Where he's turned everything for good and in most cases made it a wonderful story too.

I don't know how most people deal with change and adversity without that strength.

I'm sure you face these challenges on your mission. I have the feeling the people there aren't as hopeful or open. That must be difficult. I do know however that the lord prepares people everywhere under all circumstances and from all walks of life to hear the gospel.

So somewhere right now someone is being prepared.  Whatever adversity and disappointment you face that 1 person will more than make up for it. All it takes is 1.

I love you son. I pray for your safety and success.

Love,

Dad



Monday, March 21, 2016

March 21, 2016- Riding Metro to new area- Laval! Tender Mercy of member helping him when lost, poutine!, Matt 12;23,


Comp: Elder Udave
Area: Laval, Quebec
French & Spanish Speaking


1. So how do transfers work?  Do you have a transfer meeting?  How do you get to your new area? Do you ride the metro?  When will you be going to Laval?
2. Where did you go and who did you see this week?
3. What made you laugh out loud?
4. Do you have a favorite scripture as of late?
5.  Any tender mercies or miracles that stand out?
6. What are your favorite foods?
7. How is everything going?
8. Tell me something in French!! 


1- Well.. in the white handbook it says that missionaries are supposed to go to their areas as soon as possible and to now really meet up anywhere so this is how mine went down. Got up at 5am got ready and was out by 5:45 I took my 2 like 60-70 pound bags ( I have way too much stuff.. It is all language study books.. ) My backpack and my handbag and boarded a train that was not really meant for that kind of luggage.. But i made it work! I took the train to Montreal and From Montreal I walked to the Metros Again with all of that stuff haha. I navigated the Metros with all my stuff and somehow got to my area ... ( dont know How I did it with all that stuff.. )  In the process I carried all my luggage up like 10 flights of stairs and I was so hot and sweaty in the end. I was sore for a couple of days. It was pretty tireing.. BUT! At the end were my 3 new favorite ELDERS !All there to help me out and ease my burdens. I was ready to collapse. It didn`t help none of the elevators were working but it was fun to just navigate everything and walk through the Metros alone and talk to people. I am in Laval now I got here last.. wednesday. But no each missionary take a personal route to their new area. The Zone leaders arrange the bus tickets or train / Metros etc.

2- So right when I showed up my companion got super sick haha.. He got this super bad rash and fever and he like couldn`t walk or do anything sooo I spent a lot of time in the apartment but! We still got some lessons in! I taught more lessons in Spanish than in French actually! and I had plenty of time to unpack etc. So all was well! I am still super lost and I have no Idea where I am but all is well! I am getting there! My area is not as big as my last one but, It is definitely more complicated to navigate. ( also I am using a french keyboard so there may be a lot of mistakes because there are slight differences just warning you ) 

3- Oh my gosh I couldn`t even tell you everything! So we are in a 4 man apartment and it is  so fun! It is like living with john and gordon all the time. We have so much fun and we just play games and tell stories and every day is just a party! We are working so hard and at the end of the day we just come home and laugh the night away. All the other elders are almost done with their missions and I am just starting haha so I am just learning a lot and having a blast! 

4- I think I may have brought this one up but! The one that come to mind is mathew.. 12:23-28 inspired version. I have come to adore that set of scriptures. I think that is the reference. But it talks about what it means to take upon the crosses of the world and also what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul. I love it so much! 

5- Well Before I left my area I prayed that all would go well and that i would have safe travels and everything would work out and well for most of i was traveling alone so obviously you are going to have a little fear. Especially because it was like the 2nd time i had riden in the metros in Montreal. BUT! All went well and actually in the last metro I was taking I met a member and he helped me with my bags and he told me about my area and it was so cool! Because at the end I got a little lost and I was so dead tired and he just came out of nowhere and was my saving grace at the last stretch! 

6- haha. Well I mean meme`s potatoes may always take the spot but I am learning how to cook some pretty good things here. There are these things that we make called chicken rolls and honestly I couldn`t tell you everything that is in it I will just have to make it for you but it is like chicken, this super good sauce, other meats etc. all wrapped up in a croissant and it is to die for! I will send you the recipe next week. Other than that there is always poutine! 

7- I honestly have never been so happy in my life haha. Everything is perfect! I am always smiling and laughing! My companion is awesome! our ward is the best! The first sunday I sang in the choir ( i got 1 practice haha ) I gave a testimony conducted music. Helped teach like all these things! I felt loved and it was so fun! I have never been better! 

8- je suis tres content a etre ici. Mon college est le meilleur son francais c'est vraiment bonne! il est bien cool! le meme avec les autres elders aussi! je les adore! 

Anyways that is about it this week was so awesome!! So do you think you could get me bradys email? and I was wondering if you could send me the music for glorious from meet the mormons , .. I feel like there was something else.. Oh do you think you could send me a mini preach my gospel in Spanish? Other than that life is perfect! 

This week was just amazing and that is basically the jist of it! My situation is perfect! We are moving the apartment this transfer though so we have been working on that and I will have to pack all my bags again haha.. Oh well! But all is well! I will think of other things! I love you mom! Have a great week!

-Elder Massé



Tuesday, March 15, 2016

March 14, 2016 - Transfers! Last week in Mt. Hilaire!! Going to Laval on Ile de Montreal! With Elder Udave who is trilingual








Area: Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada 
Companion:  Elder Thomas Smith
French Speaking


1. How's your week?  HOW ARE YOU??
2. What was fun or made you laugh?
3. Who did you teach this week?
4. Spiritual experiences?  Any miracles?
5. Tell me something in French!
6. What do you think is going to happen for transfers.... 
7. What have you been thinking about lately?
8. Are you going to send me any pictures??  




1- I AM GREAT ( as always) Everything is what you make of it! This week haha.. It was a little bit slow but we got to visit a lot of members so that was good! It was full of a lot of good memories and I am happy for the time I spent here in Mont St. Hilaire. Oh yeah I got transfer calls and I am leaving haha. I am going to a place called LAVAL. Which is just north of the island of Montreal. SOOO I am basically just going to the part of Montreal that isn't super commercial I AM STOKED! My new companion is elder udave who I have heard is SUPER AWESOME! and he is tri-lingual so i am going to get to practice my spanish and french! Packing.. Packing is something else haha I really do have way too much stuff. I am fine as far as clothes and stuff go but I accumulated a fortress of books here.It doesn't Help I have 2 sets of language studying materials but I think I will make it! Other than that we have done a lot of last goodbyes for the past couple days and everything has been tranquil. Elder Smith and I are both leaving and a set of sisters will be coming in. I will really miss Elder Smith. Honestly he was such a cool missionary! My other companions better watch out because he set a pretty high standard. We had a great time and now he is going to Alma which will probably be his last area before he leaves. I will miss him. 

2- hmmmmmmm.. What didn't? Our last sunday was pretty funny we have so many goofy people in our ward. Actually! We just got a new ward mission leader and we were super stoked and he was as well and he loved us and it has been 2 weeks and when we gave him the news he was so devastated.. It was pretty funny how he reacted though. Other than that just miscellaneous things here and there! packing, singing, trying to contact, trying to speak french. The works. 

3- WHO DID WE TEACH! That is a great question I don't think I could name all of them.. Just pick a continent haha. No it isn't that extreme but we taught a lesson in spanish again! WHOO! and we basically just visited as many people as we could in preparation for us living so all of the ward members and our investigators it was a good week.

4-  WE had a super cool experience with our Recent convert! We showed up for the last time and we felt inspired to share this DVD that we have as a proselyting tool and he started crying and he testified about how much he loves the church and the plan of salvation and it was honestly the best meeting we have ever had with him! There was such a strong spirit! 

5- Alors... je suis tres content pour le temps que j'ai passe ici.. je suis pres pour le chose a venir et les nouveaux experiences. il va me manquer mais ca c'est la vie. Deprovation et la cause d'apprectiation. ( deprivation causes appreciation. ) #ElderSmith

6- see number 1 and 7. but to reiterate. I am leaving going to Laval. Elder Smith is going to alma. My new comp is elder Udave. I AM SO EXCITED!!! and well.. I still have a lot of packing to do. I will be taking a train and a metro! How cool is that! 

7- Hmmmmmmm.. Well lately I have been thinking about my new area! I do really love transfers. I will be going to a new place. New people. New companion. New missionaries. I can be whatever I want. Honestly it is the greatest thing of the world. I relate it a lot to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a chance to start over new. New life. New opportunities, it is an infinite tool of second chances. I am excited to go be myself but better. Improve on what needs work, and just grow to new heights. I am so excited! 

8- I do..... BUT! I accidently forgot it because I am packing and it is no longer in my bag... But this just means I will have a lot nect week! 

Anyways all is well here! I am just packing and I really do have some pictures for you! A member made sea food this week..... Couldn't eat it haha I felt pretty bad.. but it worked out! and I think my companion got sick from it so all is well. Well Love you have a great week! 

-Elder Massé
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Laval (/ləˈvæl/French pronunciation: [laval]is a Canadian city located in southwestern Quebec, north of Montreal. It forms its own administrative region of Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the thirteenth largest city in Canada with a population of 401,553 in 2011.[3]

Laval is geographically separated from the mainland to the north by the Rivière des Mille Îles, and from the Island of Montreal to the south by the Rivière des Prairies. Laval occupies all of Île Jésus as well as the Îles Laval.

Monday, March 7, 2016

March 7, 2016 - Spicy Thai Food!!, My mission is the best mission in the world obviously..there are more reasons that I can count. definitely because it just fits me. IT is cold, it is in french there is rain it is green. It has everything that I could have ever asked for. It has the culture. I still have bits of oregon as well I got everything."


Area: Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada 
Companion:  Elder Thomas Smith

French Speaking

1. What stuff/activities/teaching did you do this week?
2. What's your favorite lesson/discussion/principle to teach people?
3. Did you get Gpas Jesus the Christ and the music from dad 
4. What activities do you do (or have you done) for P-day and for district meetings?
5. What made you laugh out loud?
6. Where do you go grocery shopping? What's the biggest city within your area?
7. What are your unique gifts and talents as a missionary?
8. What's one reason that you're glad that the Lord sent you to Quebec to serve?




1-Activities! We went to Longeuil not that you know where that is really.. but we had zone training and that was a blast as always! Always inspired and learn more than I can take in! We also had an awesome exchange this week and we just went so hard and between the 3 teams that where there we taught like 12 lessons in one day it was amazing! We found like 4 new investigators it was seriously the best exchange of all time! Other than that we had a really good week as well. We spent a lot of time in St hyacinthe and we just went hard all day and we found 4 new investigators! I had always thought that i would go to cote d'ivoir on my mission speaking french but obviously that didnt happen haha.. but of those 4 that we found.. yeah all of the were from cote d'ivoir I have taught more africans than anyone else- I am getting a taste of Devins Mission. Other than that is was pretty standard and we just had a lot of fun! Snowed melted rained etc. THe usual.

2- I love teaching about the plan of salvation and eternal families and peoples divine potential in the life to come.  I love giving people eternal perspective and helping give them hope for what is to come. Honestly so rewarding and satisfying few things can compare than giving someone the hope of a better life.

3- I DID! I haven't signed it but it is seriously so cool I will take extra good care of it! I also did get my music from dad! Do you have any recording of the music I sang in symphonic? I am working on the GPS I have an RM who works at best buy who is going to buy me a nice Garmin with his Discount for a little under 100 and I will pay him back.

4- We have played soccer, climbed mountains, gone to the temple, gone to cool book stores, we have a mall as well so we have gone there. WE have gone to montreal and hung out with members. Usually our days are pretty full but we always find time to throw in something special. 

5- Well I dont know about out loud but I laughed at my stupidity this week. We went to this thai restaurant and well the man spoke french obviously and I didn't understand his question so I just went along with it. and well it was about the spicyness of the food.. well i figured out what he meant at the end and well I had ordered the spiciest kind.. Well as you know I am a tiny bit stubborn and they thought I had just messed up and they were doubting that I could do it. Well my competition came out I think and I just went with it and kept telling them that was what I wanted and they just kept asking me are you sure are you sure. ANd finally they were like whatever. they had to take this special sauce out of special drawer because it seems like they dont use it very often and when the chef saw it his eyes got wide and he was like " are you sure?" again I just went for it because at this point there was no going back and well.. I ate it haha and yes it was really hot. It felt like my face was on fire. It was hot enough to get one tear out of me other than that i kinda got used to it because well my mouth was basically numb haha. Do not order the spiciest stuff at a thai restaurant it is not a good idea....

6- the biggest city is st hyacinthe probably or st bruno one of the two. We do our grocery shopping at maxi or super c it is super cheap and they have EVERYTHING! litterally anything you can think of.. the best of all is " Tim Tams' I will have to send some in the mail so you can tim tam slam with the family. 

7-  I don't think there is really too much that sets me a part from the other missionaries we are all just joyous servants in the lords vineyard but if I were to pick something I would probably just pick my ability to be cheerful I love making other people happy depsite all oppostion and I have been able to do that a lot out here. It is a very rewarding work. 

8- Because it is the best mission in the world obivously............. No there are more reasons that I can count. definitely because it just fits me. IT is cold, it is in french there is rain it is green. It has everything that I could have ever asked for. It has the culture. I still have bits of oregon as well I got everything. 

9- I wear the hush puppies my other church ones dont work well in snow and rain they are more summer shoes. The snow will ruin them.

Well I dont think there is really too much else that happened and I dont htink there is really anything too special that happened this week other than that which I have already said so just have an amazing week I love you you are the best! 

-Elder Masse'