July 11, 2016- MLC - Baptism of David, New Mission President,

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

Questions!!
1. How has your health been?  Your knees?  Your shoulders?  How much do you weigh? What have you been eating?
2. Who are you teaching?
3. What do you love about your new mission president?
4. Tell me 3 things about your apartment and where it is in the city
5. Spiritual experiences or highlights?
6. What made you smile/laugh/cry?
7. Tell me anything!!


It was a super good week! I got a lot done! We got a new mission president, We had MLC ( so I went to montreal ) we had zone training, a baptism in the other ward. It was a super busy week!

I will try! There are some in the mail.. Hopefully you have gotten them by now. I will try and send you some. That is seriously the highlight of this week cant even express in words how cool that is!

1- My health is doing extremely well I eat well, Work out a lot and am strong and healthy. I weigh 165 prefect weight! And all my joints are perfect I haven't had any problems. Well we eat a lot with members so that one is a little difficult to answer but we eat a lot of pasta, a lot of wraps, I have gotten pretty good at little meals. So lots of fruits and vegetable. Grains. The works haha. I dont eat like any candy really or really sweets for that matter. We eat pretty healthy. Dont eat out too much either but when we do we get Shawarma haha. The best thing ever! Lebanese food for days!

2- We are teaching consistantly really 3 people two of which are francophone but speak English fluently. The other person we are teaching is from the Dominican Republic and she is awesome too! All 3 of them are awesome I love them all. first one is Brian and he is 72 he is the one that called us about being baptized he has a baptismal date for this week but it may be moved. He is a boss and he loves the Gospel and will totally be baptized! The 2nd is Dominique she is a  younger mother of 2 children and she is also doing pretty well! We just helped her move and she is in love with us! She loves our church and the missionaries so she is very fun to teach and be with. the 3rd is Devon from Dominican Republic. She has been taught for a little while now but I feel that she will be baptized soon she is doing very well and is super easy to love! All of them are awesome!

3- Oh my gosh he is seriously the best! I cant even describe how much I love him already even from the 1st interview I could tell that I was going to love President Phillips. He reminds me of Dad in a lot of ways, but straight from the start he just felt like someone I could trust and love, and he is! He is already a father figure! I am excited for what is to come with him. I got to talk to him quite a bit last week due to zone training and I know that he is called of God and that he is meant to be here. I love how funny he is but also serious and spiritual he is when he needs to be. He also has so much love I cant even tell you. He just emanates is and it makes you want to be around him! He is the best!

4- Well it is in Gatineau Gatineau so still in quebec. As far as direction go it would be north of the city of Ottawa if I am not mistaken. It is a 4 and a half I think very nice for 4 missionaries. We just reorganized the whole apartment! There is a couch and a nice table. The bathroom and the kitchen are rather small but it is plenty for what we need and use it for.. Umm.. Other than that. I dont know. We have 2 extra small mattresses so when we do exchanges with the other elder we get them and all sleep in the same room it is fun haha. We put 2 fans in the window and just freeze it out like back home. Old habits die hard.. we have a bunk bed and our study desks are in the same room as our bedroom because besides proselyting all day all we do is study and sleep! That is pretty much it..

5- I think something really cool was the Baptism of david this week. his conversion story is really cool! We were on exchanges and It was elder Nilson and Elder Gentillon. It was there birthday and they decided to just go to this one restaurant for no reason and they saw this man sitting in a wheel chair and he was eating and elder Nilson felt prompted to talk to him.. Well normally we dont do that because well they are eating and it is not the best thing to do. interrupt someone well they are eating etc. Just not the place. But he got the spiritual impression so he went for it! And well the rest is history we all got to help teach him and he was just the man! I am so proud He bore his testimony at the end and I almost cried!

6- Smile - I GOT TO SEE ELDER UDAVE again! That was super cool as well as ELDER SMITH!!! They are both currently serving as zone leaders so when I went to MLC I got to see them both and it was basically the best day of my life because they are super far away and Elder Smith is leaving this next week so that will be the last time I see him for a while. I thought I wasnt going to be able to see him again.

Laugh - Definitely the first time I saw Elder Udave again. We just instantly starting messing with eachother and having fun and it was nice to see him again! what else.. I have no Idea. I am smiling all the time haha. The first time I saw president Phillips? He gave me a huge hug and AH! It was the best!

Cry- When I said goodbye to elder smith that was pretty sad.. ! I knew that it would be alright though I thing the coolest thing though is what he had left me. There is this super cool electronic french dictionary that has been in the mission for like 10 years that has been passed down from Elder to Elder and what did Elder Smith give me before he left.. he gave it to me. I couldnt believe it. It was seriously so cool and it is such an useful tool for learning french! That was really cool!


7- Life is good I am happy and healthy and Elder nilson is dieing soon.. Pretty sad. So I know for sure that I will get a new companion next week so I will tell you all about it!

Love you have a great week!

-Elder Massé

July 4, 2016 - "MY WEEK WAS AWESOME!" Happy Birthday Camdeyn!, Helping other move!, A cool miracle, " God doesn't give us what we cant handle, God helps us handle what we are given."

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

1- MY WEEK WAS AWESOME! well crazy awesome haha! I cant even describe how like long this week felt but not because it was bad or anything it was just so busy that I was just in a daze the whole week! I moved 4 people this week four days in a row. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday... Crazy right? They were all big moves to so you can guess by the 4th day I was getting pretty sore. I moved like 4 washed 4 dryers. 2 Fridges. 3 Ovens and like me. Haha because there wasnt always a lot of people there so I ended up doing most of the heavy lifting I carried a washer up the 2 flights of stairs on a dolly basically by myself haha. It was super fun though it was nice to work out and to help people! :D Other than that... WE GOT A NEW MISSION PRESIDENT! We have interviews with him today so that should be awesome! I will tell you how that went next week then we have zone training tomorrow which I will be conducting and giving a training so that should be fun as well! Other than that I think A highlight of the week was we helped a man move 16 tons of gravel a couple weeks ago and he invited us to come to his lodge in a couple weeks to have dinner because of all that we had done to help soooo! We did that this week and it was awesome! He was right on a private lake and everything, boats, dock the works. So while he cooked the steaks.. yes super nice meal! We fished off the dock haha. He said we could take the boat out but... obviously we couldn't honestly one of the best memories of my mission right there it was so cool! Then while we were eating dinner there was a giant thunderstorm so we were stranded there for a little while so we just talked about the gospel and played a game haha.! I think that was most of the highlights for this week!

2- Why am I not thankful! I hope that my little man knows that I love him to the moon and back! On this special day my thoughts are turned towards him. It is interesting as you get older. You just get perspective you mature and you look back at your life and you see where you could have done better where you could have improved or worked harder. Then when this happens you see people that are younger than you and you see their potential you see where they can exceed where you may have lacked. Camdeyn right not has that potential. He can be the greatest of us all. He has all the opportunity in the world to be the best at whatever he wants. I love how talented he is and how kind he is and his love and devotion in all the things that he does. I love his charm and hit whit and how smart he is. It is crazy to watch him grow up so fast and I hope he doesnt get too old while I am gone. I am grateful for the past that I have had with him and excited for the future that I get with him. I love you bro. I couldnt ask for a better brother;) Happy Birthday <3 

3- Smile - I think one of my favorite things was moving someone for like 4 or 5 hours out 1 house and into another and at the end of it all she just looked around and couldn't believe that it had all gotten especially in such a short amount of time she was extremely grateful and happy for the help that she had received. 

Laugh - When Elder nilson was fishing probably. He was fishing and he finally got a caught! Super excited and enthusiastically he pulls in really fast and is just ecstatic, and then he pulled out of the water a like 4 inch fish haha..

cry - Probably lifting up a plastic bag on a table and then seeing hundreds of cockroaches scatter all around me. It didnt make me cry, but it was pretty nasty haha.. 

4- I think a very cool success was a miracle that happened this last week. A lot of our investigators have not been progressing as well as we would want them to except for 1. Well the past 2 weeks he fell off the face of the earth and we couldnt find him. He is also living in a temporary residence so they cannot legally tell us if he is there or not anymore so it made things quite complicated.. Well We hadnt seen him in like a week and a half and we were doing weekly planning and we were just praying that we could find him and then set goals as if he would be a part of the week etc. Well we finished up planning that we would get a hold of him then decided to go and do some pass bys because we had some extra time well on our way to the first pass by a block away we found him!!!! He had relapsed which was a little sad, but because of this he just felt ashamed to meet with us. In all of this though we set up another appointment planned to get him to church and just bore our testimonies to him and said that we loved him no matter what and we want to help him. It went really well and he is back on track. That was the miracle of the week probably! 

5- Not too much honestly. I mean elder nilson will be going home soon and I will have to take over the area so I have been thinking about that a little and just preparing as well as the arrival of president phillips I am uper excited for that! well he is here.. but like yeah I am excited to meet him!.. Umm yeah.. Other than that..  I will probably stop there sorry haha.

6- We have been teaching someone from the Dominican which is super cool! A francophone who speaks english, a man from England, a man from scotland. That is basically it haha. I am sure there are more like all the people from Africa but it is so diverse here. Basically if they are not white they come from a different country and half the time they are white they still come from a different country haha. Not to be racist but to be real.. 

7- I have so many quotes it is crazy..  I dont know if I can just pick one though! I will send you the best of this week though it says. " God doesn't give us what we cant handle, God helps us handle what we are given."  I have no idea who said it but they are awesome! 

Anyways well that is about it.. Do you have any other questions for me? I got the hard drive so all is well. Also how much money is on my card? I think I have like 150? Unless I am wrong.. could you check? Also what is the exchange rate right now? Would it be a good time to exchange money? I took some money out when it was like 1.3 which was good if it is still high maybe I will do it again. Anyways love you have a great week! 

-Elder Massé

1.       How was your week?!?!
2.       Why are you thankful Camdeyn is your brother?
3.       What made you smile/laugh/cry?
4.       What were your successes this week?
5.       What have you been thinking about lately?
6.       Who have you been teaching?
7.       Do you have a favorite quote?  Favorite thought?

June 27, 2016- Busy! President Patrick is leaving, We play Tennis or live weights, Saw a bunch of wild animals!

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

1. What did you do this week??  

2. What made you laugh/cry?

3. How is your health?  What do you do to exercise?

4. What do your district meeting look like?  How about P-Days?  Do you end up wearing your suit all day, or p-day clothes?

5. Stand out spiritual experiences or tender mercies?

6. Anything you need?  (I have some extra pants for you if you want me to send them)

7. What happened this week you don't want to forget! 

8. Questions for me?  Are you going to send me a pic or two?

It seems like I have run out of time and I feel bad that I wasn't able to email.. I know I said I would but then I got caught up in Presidents final email and talking to devin so i will respond as much as I can now then I will write you a letter with all the responses and some pictures in it! Hope that that will suffice! 

1- Great week really busy everyone is moving so things have been super crazy! Glad that I am not supoer scrawny though I am able to help a lot! 

2- cry? Well president patrick is leaving this week so that is pretty sad but I will have a new mission president so that is exciting! 

3- I am 100%, sometimes we play tennis and other times we lift weights and just work out in the apartment. I usually always get a good work out in. 

4- I only wear my suit to district meeting and zone meeting really. As well as chuch. P-day clothes rarely because we are almost always out doing somethings. District meeting usually have a training, or 2. white handbook moment, trumpet moment, miracle moment, etc. I can explain that one more later.

5- Just being here! mm.. I think something cool was during the week a man just randomly called us that we didnt know and asked us to come teach him! That was way cool as well! 

6- mm.. not quite yet. I dont think I need anything.. I will be ready to ask for them though soon probably when I go into my next area. but not quite yet. as well as the hard drive would be nice but I could get that today. 

7- mm we drove an hour and half north with our bishop and worked on this international school for the entire day it was so cool! They had all these wild animals. 12 birds of prey including a bald eagle. Horses, I saw 20 mushing dogs full grown super strong and very obedient I got to play with them etc. It was way cool! as well as gosling etc. It is a less active man but he lets us come up and do service everyone once in a while it was sooo cool! 

8- I will in the letter.. sorry! 

Sorry that that is all for this week but know that I love you! and I hiope you have a great week 

-Elder Massé

President Patricks Farewell!

Elder Masse is in the back, just to the left of Sister Patrick!

June 20, 2016 - Taught people from Kinshasa, moving furniture, 'Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us ' - Ezra taft Benson, " My legs were pinned between the two cars and he wasn't moving lol.. ( in the car I later found out he was just like ' why did the car stop?' So he hit the breaks and rolled down the window to ask me what had happened. ) SO after my mind kinda figured out what was going on I smacked the trunk a couple time and told him to move for obvious reasons.. It kinda hurt.. lol. Then once he moved the car I had to calm down the pedestrian on the side of the street who was obviously very concerned and that didn't take any time cause I basically just told her I was fine, then went and got into the car, and drove to our next appointment. "

3- Last picture with president..

2- STL's and ZL's for our zone! 

1- If you look at me you can see the face of a sad missionary finally realizing that his companion is dieing this transfer as he is doing MY Plan

Where the Magic happens! This is my desk haha

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

1. How was your week?

2.  How did everything go with transfers?

3. What made you laugh?  What made you cry?

4. What is your next training that is coming up? What is it on?

5. Favorite quote or spiritual message?

6. Spiritual moments or highlights this week?  

7. What kinds of service did you do this week?

8. Tell me anything!!

1- It was awesome! We had 2 exchanges this week, we ended up finding 5 new investigators, we had the farewell of president patrick! It was amazing! I had a small injury that happened this week that was amusing I will tell you later in the letter about it.. and other than that.. (haha the lord protects his missionaries! That is pretty crazy though.. )I dont know it was just good week! It was fun and joyous and all went very well! I got all your mail! Which I was super happy about! you go above and beyond! I was extremely grateful for everything that you sent me all the refills etc! You are the best mom! I love you!

2- Well they happened a little while ago but they were super smooth! Mainly because 2 transfers ago out of the like 30 missionaries here 20 of them were transferred so this transfer only 2 of them were transferred haha.. So it was extremely calm and easy to handle! this next one though there will be like 30 missionaries going home 6 of them from our zone and there will be like 24 new missionaries coming in so things are going to be pretty crazy! 

3- What made me cry.. Well nothing made me cry but i was sad to see president Patrick for the last time! I love him so much! He is just the best. We had stake missionary council this sunday and that was the last time that I saw him and he just put his hand on my shoulder and then gave me the biggest hug and AH!! I just love him so much! I will miss him but I am sure that President Phillips is going to be just as amazing! I am excited that was probably the saddest thing.. The funniest thing? I have no idea haha.. umm 

4- Well the next training was technically 2 days ago.. But we ended up not having to do anything because it was the Farewell of president Patrick! So the next time we do a training it will be with president Phillips and we probably wont do much there either because it will be his welcoming. So that will be onjuly 5th I believe.. But we haven't received too much instruction on that so.. Guess we will see! 

5- That is a hard one.. There are so many good ones! I have a million of them written down I have a Quote book. I will share a couple I have written down in my planner - 'Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us ' - Ezra taft Benson - This one is from Brigham young I believe. ' The Lord has chosen a small number of all choice spirit sons and daughters of all the creations of God to inherit this earth. This company of choice spirits have been kept in the spirit world for 6000 years to come forth in the last days and to stand in the flesh in the dispensation of the fullness of time to organize the kingdom of God upon the Earth. '  - How cool is that! ' Delay is of the Devil ' ' He cant help you very much if you dont live accordingly to his plan.' There is a lot more but I think I will stop there haha. I also like Living right does not mean living easy, As well as interact to edify! The list goes on and on. 

6- I think a big spiritual moment that happened this week was the 5 new investigators we found! one of them happened last week as we were leaving the church! The phone rang and it was a man asking for the missionaries because a little while ago he had been given the book of mormon and he wanted to be baptized! How cool is that! We taught him and now he is on date! It was so cool to see how God prepared people for this gospel. Also the principle of planting seeds! As well as we were going through our phone and we just decided to call some numbers we didnt know and we found a whole family! From... Kinsasha of course! I meet so many people from Devins Mission! So we got to teach them and ah! Just an amazing week of faith! 

7- I love giving service I think something that was funny this week was we were asked to just help move a refrigerator by this man. He said it would take 10 minutes just the refrigerator. So we said yes of course haha.. well.. we showed up and 2 hours later we moved, a washer a dryer a fridge a oven etc.. The list goes on. It was also on the 5th floor haha. There was no elevator and the stairway was small so only 2 people could fit. I man handles a fridge, oven, washer, all the way haha. Good thing I have that 30 minutes of workout in the morning. I dont think I would have been able to do it without it! It was really fun though and in the end he gave a donation to the church it was super cool! 

8- well 1! HAPPY FATHERS DAY! Tell dad that I love him and that his card will be in the mail shortly haha.. Sorry I am super lame and it takes me forever to write hand written stuff.. 2- SOO this is a funny story! When backing up a car the companion that is not driving has to be out of the car to make sure they dont hit anything etc. I think most people know this. Well I was on exchanges with the companion of a district leader and he was driving and where he was backing up was pretty tight because we were in downtown ottawa ( and the car behind him was like a Mercedes or a Auddi ) So obviously I didnt want him to hit it.  so I got behind him so that he could see how much space he had.. Well I dont think he was watching me very well or his depth perception was off because as I was watching him back up the car and I signaled him to stop I dont think he saw me..  so he literally just backed up and smashed my legs between the two cars... So I was just like standing there all calmly just waiting for him to move the care while My legs were pinned between the two cars and he wasn't moving lol.. ( in the car I later found out he was just like ' why did the car stop?' So he hit the breaks and rolled down the window to ask me what had happened. ) SO after my mind kinda figured out what was going on I smacked the trunk a couple time and told him to move for obvious reasons.. It kinda hurt.. lol. Then once he moved the car I had to calm down the pedestrian on the side of the street who was obviously very concerned and that didn't take any time cause I basically just told her I was fine, then went and got into the car, and drove to our next appointment. ( We had lessons to be at haha, no time for games!  ) In the end though all was well! we didnt dent the car behind us because well.. My legs stopped the car haha and I just walked it off and limped for a day or two and it was fine. It bruised a little but that was it! Sometimes I love being a Massé haha. Pretty funny eh? It barely bruised at all and only on 1 leg. I think that is the story of the week! Anyways love you! 

I dont think there is anything else Have a great week 

Avec amour Elder Massé

------------------------

Hey dad! I just wanted to wish you a happy Fathers day. You were on my mind that day and you will be getting a letter in the mail soon. I also heard the you are now facebook friends with brother Graham. You two would get a long great. This sunday he came up to me with his Ipad open and showed me some pictures from the concert and said ' So this is why you are so cool ' How great is that!

Just know that I love you and really you have laid such a strong foundation for me dad. I think about our family a lot and nothing would me more to me then to be able to raise my children the same way and give them the same opportunities that you have given me. 

You have a letter in the mail coming soon it will take a couple days and that will have more details etc. Just know that I love you and that no matter the distance I am still close at heart! Je t'aime

-Avec Amour Elder Massé

June 13, 2016 - Transfers! "I knew at that moment that heavenly father truly does watch over his missionaries." "Sometimes Heavenly Father doesn't instantly bless us because he wants to test our faith. He wants to make sure that no matter what you will always have faith in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. At no point will he ever truly leave us alone but he allows us to be tried and tested to test our obedience and our faith and as we continue to be diligent and persevere despite our hard circumstances he will bless us with the strength that we need to accomplish any task." Sylvains, Love Elder Nilson and other missionaries, culture is different,

 Birthday Surprise!

One of my favorite Missionaries! Elder Oswald this is at the end of exchanges.

The sky here is always beautiful!

Sometimes missionary work can be tiring..

 Birthday surprise!

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

1. How is your week different because of transfers?

2. What was the best part of your week?

3. Any Spiritual experiences or tender mercies that stand out?

4. Tell me about your comp and your favorite missionaries

5. Tell me something that is different about Canada than the US

6. How much do you get on your support card each month?

7. What advice would you tell to a missionary that was having a hard time?

8. Tell me anything!

I AM SO GREAT! As always haha. 

1- haha.. well the anticipation of transfer calls is pretty crazy! More so than normal because we dont get a call telling us where we are going but we make the calls and we also get to see where we are going. but nothing too different we usually just do a tim tam slam.. It is a CMM mission thing, and make the calls. figuring out where everyone is going can take some time though as well. As zone leaders we are in charge of helping them figure out public transportation. so that can be somewhat time consuming but there was basically noone that got transfered this last transfer so it didnt take any time at all.

2- what wasn't the best part of my week?  But I think my truly favorite part of this week was when we got to confirm Sylvain on sunday! I got to stand in the circle and of course it was very special and a wonderful blessing was given It really helped me see the fruits of missionary work and It felt really amazing watching someone truly accept the gospel in their life. 

3- I think Sylvains ordination was probably the biggest one. Other than that.. I was reading a talk I had watched my 1st week in the MTC. I wasn't struggling or having too hard of a time per say when I watched this talk but as every missionary does I had my own concerns and problems. I distinctly remember though that as I watched this talk the overwhelming feeling that I was where I was supposed to be and that everything would be alright. I remember feeling peace and comfort. So many things! I remember some of the things that I heard through the spirit from the talk and I wrote them down. It was quite miraculous to see though that as I reread this talk and looked over its contents that everything that I had written down was not in the talk at all. It reminded me of a quote that says " If I speak by the spirit and you listen by the spirit you will hear more than everything that I have to say" Or soething a long those lines but I was able to truly recognize that I had listened through spiritual ears and that the spirit had told me things that I was ready to here and I wouldnt have heard unless I was truly listening. I knew at that moment that heavenly father truly does watch over his missionaries. I felt the love of my savior. 

4- I love Elder Nilson! We have had so much fun together he is hard working easy going, so easy to get a long with, he has great teeth BTW. He is an amazing teacher and he speaks french extremely well he is from Kaysville Utah he loves golf, singing, sports events! He is seriously just the coolest classiest guy you will ever meet! I love being with him so much! My favorite missionaries? That is a hard one! Do you remember Elder Lund? he was one of my favorite missionaries he went home this week! It was super weird to because he only had like 2 more transfers than I have now when I came in. So that is a scary thought! He was the AP that you talked on the phone with actually. There is so many missionaries I love.. Elder Baldabinos - He is the man! I came in with him and if and when we serve together we are going to gt so much done! He is a powerhouse and really just one of my favorite! Of course Elder Vanaquer! Came in with me French what is not to love? Elder Buck Also came in with me! from Idaho reminds me a lot of my friends back home! Super nice super funny! Elder Gentillon! going home this transfer.. Super sad but I love him so much and he is super funny! There is definitely so many more but I dont have time to name them all! Elder Udave as well I have to throw him in there! he is the man I love him so much! As well as Elder Dalmasi  - was is not to love about him! 

5- Haha well the culture is definitely different it depends on where you are but specifically quebec i feel that they are Very European. The food is a little bit different I feel that there is not as much fast food here. More Nicer restaurants. A lot more Maple everything though. They have like no Mexican food at all though.. There is like 6 tacos bells total I have eaten at 2 of them though and well.. they were both really disappointing haha. Not even the same as america! But I really do love it here. I think I could live in Ottawa it is a very homely city is is very clean super green! Always has nice weather it seems like a perfect city! 

6- I get about 160 dollars in American I get 200 in canadian in each month so whatever the exchange rate is to give me 200 canadian dollars is what I get each month. When you live in a 4 man it is a lot easier to conserve money.  

7- I think I would just want him to know that he is in the right place. that he has been called of God and that at all time he has the right to call upon the powers of Heaven to help him because he is on the Lords errand. Heavenly Father not only wants him to succeed but expects it. He is not alone. He has the hosts of heaven on his side and if presses forward in faith everything will be alright. Sometimes Heavenly Father doesn't instantly bless us because he wants to test our faith. He wants to make sure that no matter what you will always have faith in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. At no point will he ever truly leave us alone but he allows us to be tried and tested to test our obedience and our faith and as we continue to be diligent and persevere despite our hard circumstances he will bless us with the strength that we need to accomplish any task. 

8- I dont think there is too much more to tell. Things are about to go crazy and I am excited! There will be like 30 missionaries going home this tranfer and like 24 coming in so lots of trainers as well as president patrick will be going home in like 17 days! So much is happening it will be AWESOME!  

Love you Have a great week! 

-Elder Massé

June 6, 2016- " I got to conduct and the spirit was so strong everyone was edified in the end. Sometimes I wish that these wonderful missionaries parents could be at these things. they wouldn't even recognize their children I am sure that all those parents would be so proud to see their children making such mature and serious decisions.", defining characteristics of Masse's,

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader


Bonjour ma mère je suis ici!

1.   How did your baptism go?

2.   Have you heard about transfers yet?

3.   Was anything hard about this week?

4.   Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen?

5.   Do you sing with the French hymnal at church… or are you singing in English now?

6.   What was your favorite day this week and why

7.   What’s something you love about being a Masse?

8.   Tell me something in French!

1- It WAS AWESOME! I told you the story about their family already right? how the mother was less active and only one of their 4 children were baptized and Since the time elder nilson has been here he reactiveated the Mother and has baptized the other 3 children and we just baptized the father! How cool is that! AHH! It was amazing and in a couple weeks we will be taking them to the temple to do baptisms for the dead so it will be pretty amazing!

2- Yup! haha because I gave them! I will be staying and... KILLING ELDER NILSON! He has been a zone leader for 7 transfers can you believe that! That is soooo long! I am glad that I will get to be with him until the end! Did I tell you as well that this transfer we will be getting a new mission president? If I didnt sorry.. haha! But we will so I will probably be a zone leader for another like 3 transfers with all the adjustments etc. 

3- haha Well we had an emergency zone training after we realized that we needed to have one before the final one at the end of June so we had no time to prepare because of how busy we are. But in the end we really followed the spirit and it was amazing! I got to conduct and the spirit was so strong everyone was edified in the end. Sometimes I wish that these wonderful missionaries parents could be at these things. they wouldn't even recognize their children I am sure that all those parents would be so proud to see their children making such mature and serious decisions. Planning and talking about the salvation of souls. It is truly amazing. 

4- This week? haha.. I dont think so.. Or not that I can recall. It was just a busy week with a lot of running around and driving! Standard but busy. Sorry there isnt more to add to that one.

5- We sing with English now soo.. a little sad but we still sing in the french hymnal everyday because of companion study so all is well! Why do you ask? 

6- I think this saturday was pretty amazing! It was a difficult day elder nilson has been here so long and with the impending doom of transfers calls we were pretty distracted thoughout the day but despite those distractions we were able to find a new investigator and get a lot of stuff done and at the end of the day! He stayed and I am so happy! What more could I ask for? 

7- I think the defining characteristics of us Massé's is that we all have our different talents and abilities, but because we were raised of goodly parents and we were raised to stand by one another we have been able to accomplish anything! We were raised to work hard and be diligent and honestly I think this has been the most important lesson that I have learned in all aspects of my life is how to work. Because I was taught how to work quickly effectively and to be diligent and always finish what I have started it has brought me so much success! Especially in the mission field. So simply I love that I was taught to work hard. To love those around me. To have charity for all people. I love that people have high expectations for us, it makes me accountable and it pushes me to work hard. I couldnt ask for a better family.

8- ma mère! Maintenant je ne sais pas si mon francais sera meuiller parce que j'ai pas beacoup de temps a practiquer mais je vais fair mon mieux. cette semaine c'est bien passé. J'ai realisé que a la fin de la prochaine tranfer j'aurai passé ma mark d'anneé c'est bien fou! ca me donne peur.. Mais je vais continuer de travailler dur et bien representer mon seigneur Jesus Christ. Je T'aime beacoup ma mère passez une bonne semaine! 

-Elder Massé

May 30, 2016- Pics! MLC, "accidently made the power go out.. " "Elder Nilson is my best friend!", "The blessings are endless!"

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

 I love our elders! this is Elder Buck!

1, What are the details of you being in the hospital ?!?!  

2. Spiritual experiences that stand out?

3. Who did you visit this week?  Where did you go?

4. What made you laugh?

5. Tell me something about your apartment and something about your comp!

6. What’s one reason you’re thankful to be a missionary?

7. What do you see everyday outside - when you leave your apartment?  

1- haha.. a Mother love never dies! It was nothing I was just having problems swallowing because of bad it hurt.. so eating and drinking was yeah.. and I was coughing a lot I had a fever and a loooooot of Mucus so I finally went to the hospital and they said I had some kind of infection thingy.. They were really unspecific and they used big doctor words that I haven't learned yet so bascially I got drugs and left haha. All is well now though so no worries! 

2- I think one thing in particiular that has been amazing so far in the time that I have spent here is the progression that I have seen in our area since I have gotten here. I know that this tranfers specifically in our zone was really inspired and there are so many amazing missionaries in our zone. It is reflected through calls as well as key indicators. In our area specifically when I showed up there were 0 people with baptismal dates but then within 2 weeks Elder Nilson and I went super hard and we had 5 people on date by the end of the second week. I have never had more than 2 people on date at a time so this was a prettu big deal. They were all progressing as well and the 1st one that we put on date  ( my second day here ) will be baptized this friday which is super cool! It will be the first one on my mission so I am looking forward to it! 

3- So this week was pretty crazy.. we Had MLC  ( missionary leadership council ) in Montreal so we had 6 hours worth of driving WHOO! and exchanges with the Assistants so yeahhhhh.. .Things were crazy! It was amazing to see Montreal again and driving for 6 hours was fun as well. So  much MOTAB.. but exchanges were super fun and I got to see Elder Udave and Elder Smith at MLC! 3 of my 4 companions were there and it was so amazing! Other than that we just visited our normal people. One Specifically that was cool was Brother lloyd who is a very old man now but he is the sweetest and cutest old man that you will ever see! He cant read anymore and we have been working really hard with him and now he is finally going to get the Melchizedek priesthood this sunday then we will get to take him to the temple! We are soooo excited! 

4- haha this one gets me everytime I never know what to say because we are just laughing all the time.. I think one of the hardest times that we laughed was when we accidently made the power go out.. When you are running a million fans and an air conditioner and the fridge.. it happens. But It was all fine until someone tried microwaving a burrito.. that was the funniest part. but in the end The burrito was heated up so it is okay!

5- Hmm. well our apartment is a 4 and a half I believe ( I am like 37% sure of what that means.. ) it is extremely hot! Because it is very humid and it has been in the 90's the past couple days so that has been fun but it is really nice! We have a smaller kitchen and bathroom but totally big enough for 4 missionaries and it meets all of out needs I will have to send you some pictures of what it looks like next week! If I can send you a 1 minutes video that I have i will you will get to see us celebrating the Elders Birthdays! Elder Nilson is my best friend! It is like having john with me it is so great! we mess with each other all the time and just have so much fun! but at the same time we are super effective as well he really is one of the best he knows how to hasten the work and be a great missionary. I am learning so much from him and it has been the best! I love my area and him so much!

6- I think one thing specifically is the knowledge that I attain. My greatest desire all the time is to learn and well.. that is what I do everyday! I learn how to manage everything! groceries, cars, apartments, schedules, time,  I know how to study, I know what to study, I know when I need a break, I know how to talk to people, how to fulfill callings, I have say in stake councils, in Pec, Mlc, ward council. Everything I just learn so much everyday and all these experiences would not be possible if I was not a missionary. It is like having  a limited free trial in life and then going back to the real world with everything that you have learned and becoming even better! The blessings are endless! 

7- GREEN! It is so green here.. Like sometimes I think it might compete with Oregon.. It is crazy! I will have to show you some pictures so you understand I am starting to forget how green oregon is though so i might be totally crazy but compared to all my other areas this is by far the most beautiful it is a perfect city! I could totally live here. No joke. but there is always amazing weather here the clouds are spectacular! I cant even describe them! Better than I have ever seen! Other than that.. roads and lots of cars! There are a million parks here as well as rivers it is like a little Oasis and the big city you can see for miles around. It is a very peaceful place by far my favorite area so far.

I will try and send pictures more consistently because well I realized that pictures are basically the best part of emails so I will try and return the favor!  ( you are the best) 

anyways I think that is all for this week! I love you so much! 

-Elder Massé

May 24, 2016 -"I am super grateful for the missionaries in my apartment and for my companion. For the weather and the clouds. There is amazing weather here. The clouds and sunsets are beautiful! I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and for my strong testimony in Jesus Christ and everything that he did for us. I have a long list of things to be grateful for. I could name so many things. I owe so much to the people around me, my family, to my Heavenly Father. He has given me so much. My everything! My eternity." Aristotle: "You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."- Letters from Dad and Grandma

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

Dinner at Brother Rob Grahams's house!!

1. HOW ARE YOU??

2. What did you do this week??

3. What is Victoria Day and how do you celebrate that in Canada??

4. What made you laugh?

5. What are some things you were grateful for this week?

6. Is there anything you need from me?  Anything I can do?

7. Tell me anything!!

8. Tell Elder Nilsen hi from the Masse family!!  

 (mom's side note:  All during high school when Tate needed me or was calling me... he would always say "Ma mère" instead of mom- I miss hearing him call me that and so it is very endearing when he starts his letters that way!) 

Ma mère 

Bonjour ma mere! Je suis ici! Comment ca-va! Quoi de neuf?? 

1- I am super good as always! I got sick and had to go to the clinic this week.. go figure haha had to happen at least once on my mission I got some kind of sinus infection and that put me out for like a day.. But, aint nobody got time for that so I recovered quickly and just got back to work haha. Nothing can stop me! haha but I am doing super well! I am very happy as always and like is super!

2- this week! Well.. Besides going to the hospital.. I shoveled 18 tons of gravel with a shovel and wheel barrel in the sun for 6 hours! I got pretty tan haha. It felt really good to work hard again. I miss doing that more often! It was really rewarding and it was for someone who wasnt a member so we got invited back for dinner and who knows we could end up teaching them which would be great! Other than that.. ! OH we celebrated the birthdays of Elder Gentillon and Elder Nilson in our apartment and it was super fun! As you know I always go pretty hard with birthdays so it was really fun we went on exchanges that day and so we decorated the whole apartment and made a cake and bought them presents it was super fun! I ate more cake this week than my entire mission haha.. that 18 tons of gravel probably leveled off what I ate haha.

3- It is to celebrate something with queen victoria.. I have no idea what and. I think they just wanted a holliday so they made it up haha.. I dont think anyone really did anything to celebrate. BUT! There is a giant tulip festival but I dont think it was because of queen victoria day specifically but I am not sure. I dont know my canadian history haha..

4- What didn't we laugh about! I think some of the funniest moments were during the celebrations of the other elders birthdays. We ate soo much cake and we bought them a bunch of gifts from the dollar store and then we ended up just tackling them and tickling them and wrestling. It was pretty funny! I am failing on my memory right now. Sorry! It was a long week! 

5- I am super grateful for the missionaries in my apartment and for my companion. For the weather and the clouds. There is amazing weather here. The clouds and sunsets are beautiful! I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and for my strong testimony in Jesus Christ and everything that he did for us. I have a long list of things to be grateful for. I could name so many things. I owe so much to the people around me, my family, to my Heavenly Father. He has given me so much. My everything! My eternity.

6- I have everything I need :D! Because of you! 

7-I am going to the tulip festival today which should be pretty fun!

8- Okay haha he says hi back! 

Love you have an amazing week! 

-Elder Massé

-------------------------------------------------

Note from Dad:

Hi Son,

I hope your doing great!

I know you are busy so I'll keep it brief. A lot going on here.  We've had some long days.  I'm reminded that there are times when your just climbing uphill, with a heavy pack, sun beating down and every part of you is saying: stop this sucks, this is too hard, just head back down, it would be so easy.

But then you keep going and your friends lift your spirits and make that part of the journey bearable. And then you finally get to the ridge and the view is amazing, and the hike downhill feels great and you can finally rest, and the cool water is a gift and the food is amazing (who knew beef stroganoff in a bag could be so amazing).

And the camp fire, chair, and evening of talking and playing games makes it all worth.

But yeah. That uphill part just seems so hard.

So there it is. It's really not more complicated than that, unless you try to make the trip alone or your on the wrong path.   Life isn't really much more than that.

I love you and pray for you.

Love,

Dad

---------------------------------

Note from Grandma Judy:

Dear Elder Masse'

     Grampa and I are full of gratitude that we are home safe...     It was a grand tender mercy to get to see you on Mother's Day.I am thrilled that you are so happy. It is well have you have noticed increased patience in yourself and better organization.Those characteristics will serve you well when you get to college.

     The quote for the day is from Aristotle: "You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."

     To repeat myself: Thank you for the blessings your good humor, obedience, hard work, good example, faith and diligence sends our way.

     Continuez votra bon travail avec diligence inebrantable.

Love,

Gramma

From Elder Masse: 
Well after 9 months a way from home I can understand and appreciate that quite a bit. ... I try my best and the lord makes up the rest. I really like that quote! Did you know I have a quote book and I always write all these quotes in it? Well just know I love every single one and I appreciate everything that you do grandma! You inspire all your grand children to be greater and you truly make the world a brighter place have an amazing week! 

-Avec amour Elder Massé

May 16, 2016- " my vision of the purpose of this life has really been defined. I have simply just grown a foot or 2..." 3 people on date, exchanges, opportunities to serve!

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

1. How are you???  You seem so crazy busy which is great!!

2. This week is my birthday....  send me some pics!! 

3. Any Spiritual experiences or tender mercies that stand out?

4. What made you laugh?

5. What's the best part of being a zone leader? /Some of your responsibilities?

6. What have you learned about yourself the last two transfers?


1- I am sooo crazy busy haha.. all the time! sometimes I dont even get studies because I am on the phone with the District leaders or the assistants.. Life is so crazy all the time! But it is all worth it! Everything I do is rewarding and I feel so accomplished when I go to sleep at night! This is truly the best time of my whole life!

2- I will;) and did you think I would forget! You will have some treats coming soon :D! I just need to find a box There is a member actually who goes to the United States so I might be able to get you a flat rate box soon! 

3- I think something amazing this week was the fact that we put 3 people on date! 3 Solid people that are totally ready to receive the blessings of the gospel they are so prepared and perfect and I am so happy that I get the opportunity to teach them! They are just wonderful people and all I want for them is the best. I have really seen what it means to love someone and want them to have the same blessings that you have seen. It was quite an amazing experience which has never happened on my mission! 

4- umm.. I think the funniest thing this week probably happened during our exchanged! We had 6 missionaries in our apartment and we were playing a game.. Let me tell you haha. It was quite the night! It just reminds me of the good old times with the 3 musketeers! But really I laugh and smile all the time with the elder I am with! They are a blast to be around! 

5- Honestly I think it is just all the opportunities that I have had to serve. That is really the defining feature of what I have seen so far from being a zone leader. Every day I am just given more opportunities to serve! There are so many people looking up to me and in need of my help and I get the opportunity to do everything in my power to make sure that they are successful and have all the tools that they need to accomplish their callings! It is so amazing! It is quite the opportunity and I love it so much! I love being able to help solve problems and motivate people and give them advice on what they can do to improve! It is so amazing. 

6- haha.. Ah too many things. I think I have just matured honestly. I have just been thinking in a different way I have calmed down a lot and I am very patient and I think things out a lot more. I try to come up with the best solutions that benefit everyone. I have become a million times more organized. My mind has cleared it seems as well. I know more of what the future will look like and my vision of the purpose of this life has really been defined. I have simply just grown a foot or 2. I have progressed a little bit and I am ready to progress a little bit more! 

You are the best love you!   

-Love Elder Massé

May 9, 2016 - Bonjour ma mere! Day after skyping for Mother's Day!

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

Bonjour ma mere!

okay... so this week is going to be like no email because.. we started p -day late and in the middle of emailing we had to go run an errand with a phone.. soo I think this may be all you get for this week and I am so sorry! I will get you all your pictures next week and I will write a lot! I love you have a good week! 

-Love elder Massé

May 4, 2016 - Transfers to Ottawa!!!! New Comp!! Zone Leader!! Picture of Member who knows Finn from Oregon!

Area: Ottawa Ontario Stake, Champlain Ward
Comp: Elder Jared Nilson (Kaysville, UT)
Zone Leader

"Ottawa, Canada’s southeastern capital, sits in Ontario at the border of Québec. A cosmopolitan city on the Ottawa River, it has at its centre Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and renowned museums such as the glass-and-granite National Gallery, with noted collections from Canadian and Indigenous artists. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in summer and ice-skaters in winter.  
Population:

883,391 (2011)

• Area code:
  Area codes 613 and 343
• Area:
  1,073 mi²"

1. What are the details on you skyping us???  

2. What ward and stake are you in?  How was the reception you received?

3. Who is your new comp??  His first and last name and where he's from???  What do you love about him?

4. How did transfers go?? 

5. Tell me stuff about your new apartment.. how is it different from your last two areas? How is it speaking English?  lol

6. What made you laugh??  What was wonderful?

7. Tender Mercies?  

8. How are you feeling about things/your mission?

1- I will be skyping you this sunday between 3-5.. Well before 5 i think and after 3.. So really descriptive but, that is all I got right now sorry! haha

2- I am in the Champlain ward and the Ottawa Ontario stake. IT WAS AMAZING! this ward puts me right at home! It helps that it is in English too. They are so awesome! It is one of the biggest in the mission and they have amazing leaders! I have already met the stake president! I got to talk etc. so many wonferful things! 

3- HE IS THE BEST! I have had so many great companions! and Elder Nilson is another one of those! he is seriously so kind and patient! He is super loving! super talented! Great leader and singer! I love him so much! His name is Jared Nilson and he is from Kaysville Utah. I think i spelled that right. I dont think I could tell you everything I love about him. he is just the best! he is like my twin! We are so effective and we have so much fun together! 

4- transfers were super easy! I took a Metro to Montreal then I got onto a greyhound bus and just headed to ottawa and that was it haha.. Saying goodbye was alright the ward was acutally really sad to see me go! but they understood that it was from the Lord and it was my time to leave! So I was well loved on both ends! The bus ride took about 2 and a half hours and I was greeted by the other wonderful missionaries of my apartment! Except elder buck because he was coming from super far away and so his bus came in later then.. He ended up missing one of his connecting buses because the 1st one was late and well.. we eventually found him haha after lke an hour.. It was a pretty funny experience! he had to call us from someone elses phone. 

5- Speaking Enlgish.. is weird and sometimes I forget words actually it is kinda sad especially praying because I always say my prayers in french and now I have to say some in English and it trips me up,, When I can though I say them in French, because of where we are located I actually still live in Quebec and my area is but the other half is in a different province haha. So I get plenty of French in still. Our apartment is really nice still! I honestly have been blessed with some of the nicest apartments in the mission. the only difference is this one doesnt have a washer and dryer and we have to pay but that is no big deal at all I am still blessed beyond belief! 

6- Well the even in losing Elder Gentillons companion for like an hour and a half was pretty funny.. He had called and left a voicemail that was pretty funny. Saying " hey I am in Ottawa.. I missed my bus... Ummm i am next to this building on this street.. Good luck and well I hope to see you soon.. Do what you can with that. " it was pretty memorable but here was cheerful and bubbly as ever after all was said and done! It was hilarious! other than that we laugh everyday over the smallest of things! I dont think I can name all of them! 

7- Well here is a cool one. So when we travel we travel along of course and so I had said goodbye to the other elders and I had gotten all my stuff on the Metro ( that was a miracle in and of itself haha ) I have a lot of stuff. But I just sat there with my 3 bags and I waited for my stop and I waited.. and waited  it was a pretty long ride and well I got to a stop and I was sure it wasn't mine but I couldnt see exactly what it was and I had a strong impression to ask someone close by which one it was and well.. It turned out it was the one I needed to get off at! SO I like sprinted off the metro as it was closing with all my stuff.. it was a super close call! If i had not asked that man I would have missed my stop been late, missed my bus and would have had no way to contact anyone.. SO! That was a giant tender mercy. I was able to reflect on that later. It was quite the little miracle.

8- I LOVE EVERYTHING HERE! It is so perfect I think I might like the city of Ottawa more than montreal whihc is saying somethings. It is a lot more beautiful and clean it is so wonderful! We must visit both when you come. I am just as happy as could be! I dont think I have been happier my whole mission! I am loving it so much. It scared me that this will end eventually. It is just a part of my life now and I cannot imagine life any other way.. SO with that I am trying to make the best of it! 

Well I think that is all I have to report on this week.. I dont think there is really anything else! Love you have an amazing week! 

-Elder Massé