February 29, 2016 - "Since I have been out here I have come to realize what I truly love about life. What I cherish most. Because of this I have thought a lot about what I will change to be who I want to be in the future. I have a lot of ideas and I have just really found out who I am. What I love, what I want, what means most to me. What I want to do. What I know will make me happy in the future. I could tell you a million things. I have just come to the true realization of who I am at heart and what I want."

street of montreal

my face was pretty cold haha..




this is a sower of seeds! this is my life haha

This is how we do it in canda! Love you have a great week!

the closest I will ever get to a girl in two years

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

French Speaking

1. How are your fingers?  

2. How are things going with your companion?

3.  Tell me something you don't want to forget this week!

4. Tell me something about your comp

5. What were some spiritual experiences or miracles? or What have you been praying and fasting about?

6. Tell me something in French (oh how I love your French!!!) 

7. What made you laugh?

8. Tell me something you have learned about yourself

9. Tell me anything!!!  

That is so cool! I really am actually awesome! That is way cool though! Home sweet home. Nothing compares to coming to your loving home! Deprivation brings appreciation.

1- There are totally healed and if i sent you a picture you wouldn't be able to see anything haha pretty miraculous right??? I do! je me souviens!

2- My comp is basically the coolest man ever to be born. Except of course my crew. #loveyoujohn

We are having a blast together and just learning a lot and recently before bed and while we are eating we have been playing chess. I got to get ready to play dad when I get back. 

3- Lets see this week? Well we had a pretty cool experience with knocking one night we had like 5 minutes left before we were supposed to be back in our apartment and we decided to only knock 1 door. Well we picked one and I have knocked quite a few doors now and 99% they don't let us in or let us come back buuut this time he said we could come back and it was a  pretty cool faith building exercise about always using time wisely and just getting as much stuff as possible done with what time you do have.

4- My comp? He is a very cultured classy young man. He absolutely adores skiing and he is very good from what I have heard from his stories. He has torn his acl and had a couple meniscus tears and when we do physical sports we both have braces it is pretty funny. We are actually very very similar in a lot of ways and it is pretty funny. He is definitely a comedian as well and overall he is just the greatest !

5- I having been praying and fasting for our ward and our leaders. Finding new people and just being able to help people progress. We have had some cool little miracles in our ward with these just working out and some activities. but it is the same old same old! Elder Smith and I have really done a lot of work here and we are in the process of making a solid foundation for missionary work.

6- honettement ma mere j'ai aucun idea qu'est-ce que je dois dire.. je ne sais pas qu'est-ce que tu veux. Mais en tout ca, cette semaine - c'etait bien. Nous avons fait beacoup des choses et il y avait beacoup des pleures qui geler vite a cause de le foit. mais apart de ca je ne sais pas. C'est beau ici et je suis content! 

7- We have some pretty funny members haha they make me laugh everytime whether it is us joking around with our recent convert Denis or another member running to a 85 year old women.  Everyday is an adventure just got to have the right perspective. 

8- Since I have been out here I have come to realize what I truly love about life. What I cherish most. Because of this I have thought a lot about what I will change to be who I want to be in the future. I have a lot of ideas and I have just really found out who I am. What I love, what I want, what means most to me. What I want to do. What I know will make me happy in the future. I could tell you a million things. I have just come to the true realization of who I am at heart and what I want.

9- Well what could I say! It has been pretty average here the weather has just been crazy it snows, it melts, it freezes and then repeats. We have been having freezing rain. you name it! Other than that everything is normal. It is beautiful here as ever. anyone that speaks english uses the word "eh" If there is anything that exists there is a maple version of it. ( that is not a joke ) Crazy dinner appointments. Loads of fun! We have everything we could ever want! 

Well I think that is it for the most part. I know madame gave me a petit larrouse that had pictures and it defined words it is a really nice dictionary do you happen to know where it is? It would be very very useful actually.  Did you ever get any of the music that I sang in high school? I really would like to here some of those things again. I would say that everything that we sang would be approved. So anything you find would be great! Other than that I don't think there is too much else. Everything is just normal here! 

Well I love you you are the best have a great week! 

-Elder Masse'

February 22, 2016 - Miracles- Fingers, Water Froze, Rode the Metro in Montreal, Chinatown, "we taught a new family from Cote d'ivoir, people from haiti, a women from venezuela and a man from guatamala. Also some people from honduras and then we had the normal quebecers! That is something I do love is that we teach people from all over the world! Getting a little bit of everything. Oh also a man from morocco. We also had a lesson that was basically completely in Spanish and that was pretty cool we had some people translating spanish to french and french to spanish."

 Chinatown, Montreal!
(Chinatown in Montreal is located in the area of De la Gauchetière Street)

"#love you elder walker"

"this was my valentine!"

 "a little taste of Paris"

Area: Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada 

Companion:  Elder Thomas Smith
French Speaking

1- My week was a little slow but it was filled with some pretty
awesome stuff! Montreal on monday was the best! We wen't with this man
named Cedrik who all the missionaries know and he acts like he is 25
but he is really in his late 40's and it was the coolest thing ever!
Other than that we just had a jolly old time with missionary work! We
have just been getting stuff done here and really building the
foundation for missionary work here. Oh also! I totally burned 4 of my
5 fingers on my right hand because well.. I thought something wasn't
hot.. It turned out to be very very hot! But just read number 5 before
you freak out haha. I burned the top 2 parts of all my fingers except
my pinkee. That is just to be honest haha But it is fine so done worry
about it. Read number 5. I think that is basically everything that
happened this week..

2- ummm What didn't? Again just funny experiences with our recent
convert being in montreal with Cedrik we were laughing all the time
because he kept just making jokes and pointing things out. I also got
to ride the Metro for the first time in Montreal that was cool! I
bought a lot of cool nick knacks. 

3- We did get a little bit of snow but then it rained and it made most
of it go away then it got really cold and all the water froze so the
weather has been quite sporadic and not the best. I did love it when
it snowed though! Everytime it brings me more joy than it should I
have been wanting a giant snow storm but I haven't gotten it yet..

4- Just the usual we taught a new family from Cote d'ivoir, people
from haiti, a women from Venezuela and a man from Guatemala. Also some
people from Honduras and then we had the normal quebecers! That is
something I do love is that we teach people from all over the world!
Getting a little bit of everything. Oh also a man from morocco. We
also had a lesson that was basically completely in Spanish and that
was pretty cool we had some people translating spanish to french and
french to spanish.

5- Well again with my hand I was in pain obviously! But before I went
to bed I just prayed that when I woke up there would be no more pain
and that I would be able to use my hand and do everything that I need
to and well.. I am haha I woke up and it didnt work I am able to type
and shake peoples hands so that was a pretty cool miracle also It has
been less than 24 hours since this happened so I would say that is a
pretty big miracle.

6- They are not members but I believe that it is serge and sonia if I
remember correctly.. We don't see them all that much because they are
usually gone but we made  some cake for them once etc! they seem
pretty cool!

7- Okay working on it

8- cette semaine c'etait interesant.. il n'y a pas beacoup de chose a
dire a propro de qu'est que ce que ce passe mais, c'etait une bonne
semaine. Mon chose favorit c'etait montreal avec Cedrik je vais vous
envoyer le photo.

 I think that is it for the most part there is not too much else I
will send you some pictures! Have a great week! I am working on getting letters
 sent in the mail. Love you
have a great week!

-Elder Masse'



> 1. How was your week?!?!
> 2. What made you laugh?  What was the funniest thing that happened?
> 3. Did you get snow- and did you love that?
> 4. Who did you teach this week?
> 5. Spiritual experiences?
> 6. What is the name of the couple you live with?
> 7. Send me pics and tell me anything!
> 8.  Tell me something in French!!

February 15, 2016 - -38 Degrees!! Visiting Montreal, Crazy awesome exchanges in Granby, Planking, "Flung the fish to Elder Arnold"

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

French Speaking

Today I have to go to montreal and so my email time is cut I will only have about 6 minutes to email you so here we go.. SORRY! I will have pictures and stories to tell next week! 

1- I am great! No need to worry all is well! 

2- I dont think so or that I can think of... I will make a finite list next week!

3- Yesterday it got to -38!!! WHOO finally! I have not yet made a snowman because it has been cold with no snow But we are supposed to get quite a bit of snow this week so I will tell you how that goes! And no not quite yet! 

4- um we had these crazy awesome exchanges in granby where we had 6 missionaries together because they changed how exchanges are done and it was such a blast! Also well the fact we are going to montreal today is cool we will spend the p-day in montreal! We are getting a brand new 2016 nissan rogue... That is crazy as well.. That is way too nice for 2 missionaries. haha.

5- When we were in granby we went to a members house who is like 90 years old and she made fish.. Well you know how I am.. Basically while her back was turned I flung the fish to elder Arnold because I could not eat it haha I was getting an upset stomach from just smelling it but that exchange was seriously the best we had a planking contest and I went for 5 minutes! I was sore the next day haha.

6- je n'ai pas beacoup de temps desole ma mere vous savez que je t'aime! With bonjour and a hand shake pretty much haha depends The members here actually do really like the elders so I do get quite a few hugs!only from men obviously..

- Sorry I ran out of time hI have to go but I love you I promise next week will be better! 

That thing with aiden is so cute!

1.  How are you???  How are you feeling?

2.  Do you need anything?

3.  How cold did it get??  Did you make a snowman?  Did you get hypothermia? lol

4.  Did anything crazy happen this week? 

5.  What made you laugh?

6   Tell me something in French and how do people greet you?

*February 8, 2016- Swiss politician, giant field, sushi and fried fish! "I often think back to the stories from the Phillippines and Africa and my own experience back in Oregon. Each is Unique and profound in its own way. Each brings certain challenges that I think the missionaries that go need, so that they can grow and become better. What we have been considering is what is it the Canada Montreal brings. At the end how will we be different. We have been thinking about this question a lot we dont have a definite answer yet but whatever it may be no matter where you go int he world. It is where you are supposed to be. The 1st real convert is yourself and that comes through the testing of your faith and eventually your profound witness that everything your doing is truly of God."

Area: Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada 

Companion:  Elder Thomas Smith

French Speaking

My internet isn't working too well but I am sure it isn't Africa or the Philippines so I should be fine!

1.  How are you???

 2.  Are you getting transferred???
3.  Did you get your other car back?
4.  Did anything crazy happen this week?

5.  What made you laugh?
6   Tell me anything!!
 7. Do you have any questions for me?
8.  What's something you walk/drive by everyday?

 9.  What's something you've been thinking about lately?

1- I am great! We had a great week this week it actually snowed! It is
supposed to get colder this week down to -18 and we should have some
more snow as well! But, I am just as great as always passing the time
in laughter and smiles!

2- I did not get transfered so I will be staying in Mont St. Hilaire
for another 6 weeks! Elder Smith only has like 3 transfers left so I
will either kill him and stay another transfer to show another
missionary around or I will leave just before he goes home and well I
have no idea what would happen with that.

3- I didn't get our other car back it wasn't even that damaged it was
pretty good compared to what could have happened but right now we are
driving another car it is a 2011 chevy cruze and it is still nice so
all is well! We should get the car back soon.

4- Not particularly honestly it was a pretty standard week.  the river
is just going inbetween frozen and not frozen. Things are freezing
melting and refreezing. Just average missionary life!

5- Umm.. We got spoon fed by a 65 year old women, washed my size 11
pantoufles! and when i pulled them out they had shrunk to about a size
6.. Got rebuked by a swiss politician stake president ( that is the
meaning of fear ) Other than that.. It was a good week haha!

6- I don't think there is too much to report on this week honestly. It
was a pretty standard week just drove around everywhere taught lessons
tried to find people! Last monday actually we went to do a FHE with a
family from cote d'ivoire right after we had just eaten and then we
realized that they wanted to also feed us dinner.. Well it was all
this crazy african food and it was really cool! Buuuut.. in the middle
they just had these 2 GIANT fried fishes.. I couldn't eat it haha I
tried but it didn't work. I also tried eating Sushi this week and I
threw up haha. I wasted like 14 dollars on it too.. I just gave it to
my companion and then went and ate a sandwhich. Anyways other than
that.. Dont think there was anything else too special other than us
also teaching probably the richest person I have ever met in my life.
Her and her husband were both in the medical field and this
house....... You walk in and there is just chandeliers and it is just
WOW.. this house makes it into the millions.

7- I dont think I have too many questions for you I am a little
curious what you did with all my left over mission stuff. It may be
useful to have another pair of nice pants in the future I wear the
nice grey pants all the time! Other than that I just want to know how
everyone is doing etc. the usual. If you know who has gotten there
mission calls in Oregon that would be cool as well.

8- There are always quite a few things. There is a giant field right
outside our house and I was here when it was just acres of gold and
yellow and now It is this vast space of snow and it is quite cool to
look at actually there is a mountain in the distance ( mountain
meaning a big hill )  and during the night you can see lights from a
near by city. We also always drive next to, or across the river. It is
really long and it is just filled with ice. I think it would be fun to
swim across buuuuut.. that will have to wait until I am no longer a
missionary.

9- There is always so much haha not a fair question! I think a big
thing that Elder Smith and I have been thinking about is our mission
in particular. I often think back to the stories from the Phillippines
and Africa and my own experience back in Oregon. Each is Unique and
profound in its own way. Each brings certain challenges that I think
the missionaries that go need, so that they can grow and become
better. What we have been considering is what is it the Canada
Montreal brings. At the end how will we be different. We have been
thinking about this question a lot we dont have a definite answer yet
but whatever it may be no matter where you go int he world. It is
where you are supposed to be. The 1st real convert is yourself and
that comes through the testing of your faith and eventually your
profound witness that everything your doing is truly of God.

Dont think there is too much else I will be here though so ask me
questions! I love you have a great week!

-Elder Masse'

February 1, 2016 - "As I have been a missionary in a chaotic world it is really the things that are attached to eternity that have brought me comfort. Waking up everyday and working knowing that at the end of it all I will once again get to be with my family and friends. Knowing that every step further I go and every person I talk to could change their life could bring them closer to christ. It makes it all worth it. My treasures are laid up into eternity and that is where i find my solace that is where I find my peace." transfers! Staying with Elder Smith, zone conference, john 14:27,

Area: Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada 

Companion:  Elder Thomas Smith

French Speaking

1.  How are you???  

2. Tell me about some of your favorite people

3. Are you loving the weather????  Did you get lots of snow??

4. What made you laugh this week?

5. What brings you peace?

6. Spiritual experiences?

7. Something you are looking forward to?

8. Tell me something in French! 

9. What's something you've been thinking about lately?

Je suis ici!  I got your package with everything!  I am absolutely perfect! I have had a great week and nothing could be more perfect!  I did not get a lot of snow actually really sad.. there was hardly any snow here actually.. It is above zero and most of the snow has melted it was a pretty weak winter.. 

1- I am so great I am happy and healthy and I have just been having the best time with elder Smith! we just got transfers calls and I am staying in this area with elder smith! no one in our district actually changed which is awesome because we have the best district in the world! 

2- Some of my favorite people? Well there is a man named fr. O. and he is just a fiery european man from swiss and he is the best! He is a former stake president and bishop and he is seriously so knowledgeable and he loves the missionaries and he has us over to eat all the time and his accent is so NICE! There is also a bunch of families in the ward that I love so dearly one specifically just had an 8 year old baptized and during church he asked us if we were coming to his baptism and it was the cutest thing I have ever seen! THEN! when he was getting the holy ghost he asked us to come and help give it to him it was seriously the greatest thing ever! 

3- It hasn't been very cold and there hasn't been too much snow I think the winter may actually be over which is quite sad but c'est la vie! I will just pack all my winter stuff up and use it next year! It is supposed to get kinda cold this week but other than that I think it might be over. 

4- we had a zone conference where we got to spend like 6  hours with some of my favorite people ever and afterwards some of us went to a restaurant and honestly we were just smiling and having the greatest times of our lives there! When you are surrounded by people you love that is true happiness! 

5- The gospel my family, my friends, water, Nature. Everything john 14:27 really sums it up nicely. As I have been a missionary in a chaotic world it is really the things that are attached to eternity that have brought me comfort. Waking up everyday and working knowing that at the end of it all I will once again get to be with my family and friends. Knowing that every step further I go and every person I talk to could change their life could bring them closer to christ. It makes it all worth it. My treasures are laid up into eternity and that is where i find my solace that is where I find my peace.

6- one specifically was being inspired to go visit someone early that we already had a return appointment for! We were a little hesitant at first but we went anyways. When we showed up the person we wanted to see wasn't there but!  We met his parents and they let us in and we got to teach them the first lesson and we got 2 new investigators because of it! really was a highlight of the week!

7- Anything in the Future! I know that whatever comes is supposed to. Whether it is hard or easy , fun or challenging I hope that it stretches me and grows me and helps me become a better dsiciple of christ. 

8- je n'ai pas beacoup de temps mais je vous aime ma mere et j'espere que tu passe une bonne semaine! 

9- I think so much haha.. that is a hard question. something specific is the idea of charity. I may have to wait till next week to finish this thought but charity comes in many forms and sometimes it means loving someone enough to "hurt" them. Loving them enough to tell them what they need to do better. 

Sorry no time left! but I love you have the best week ever! 

-Elder Masse'