25 Things I learned in Canada
1. How to survive in arctic conditions:
down jacket + layers + hand and foot warmers + a whole lot of heart = conscious 
2. Tim Hortons (a.k.a. Timmies), Thai Express, and Cafe Morgane need to migrate across the border. 
3.The proper employment of the word "eh".
4. French. And by French I mean Quebecois. "Bah oui le!"
5. Milk comes in bags in Ottawa and Quebec.
6. Never get a haircut at Walmart!
I'm not even sure how they can make that mistake.... but that was 4 months into my mission and it's been growing out ever since.
7. Everything happens for a reason. The Lord knows what He's doing.
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| Amy Rojo. Best trainer ever. She taught me how to be a missionary, how to serve the people, and...well...everything! |
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| Liesl Limburg. The realest missionary there ever was. She taught me how to laugh, how to forgive, and how to be normal when you contact. :) |
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| Crosby Curry. My favorite greenie! She taught me the worth of souls, to never give up, and that it's okay to be yourself. |
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| Catherine Holding and Michelle Davis. Trio from heaven. They taught me how to work hard, how to set goals, and how to speak French! |
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| Michelle Davis. My longest companion--5 transfers baby! She taught me how to get to know someone, how to be hipster, and how to be a best friend! :) |
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| Carlee Dick. My last companion! She taught me how to serve in a YSA, how to have fun ALL the time, how to really love people, how to smile, how to go with the flow, and how to finish a mission! :) |
8. Sometimes things don't turn out the way you expect.
That just means it's time to grow!
9. Courage counts.
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| Caleb, Arzaan, and Taylor... They taught me that. Through their examples of what real faith looks like. They taught me that even though we sometimes find ourselves in hard situations, if we put our trust in the Lord, with His help we can accomplish miracles. |
10. I can do hard things.
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| Like endure winters in Canada... |
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| Hold sour skittles in my mouth for over an hour... |
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| Sing Christmas carols to random strangers in French... |
...but more importantly... anything the Lord asks of me.
"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way that they may accomplish the thing which He hath commanded them.'' -Nephi
11. Blessings come, sometimes later, but they do come.
12. Success is measured in many ways.
13. Discouragement is debilitating, avoid it like the plague.
14. The value of hard work. As my dad always says, "Are you working hard? Or hardly working?"
15. That little, daily decisions have a huge impact on the outcome of our lives.
16. That the Lord loves us and is there for us, no matter what.
17. Obedience brings blessings.
18. That the Atonement and Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives.
19. What true conversion looks like.
20. That every person placed in your path has something to teach you.
21. The importance of goal setting. If you're not moving forward, you're moving backward, because there will always be an opposing force ready to keep you away from your potential.
22. Patience is a virtue.
23. The power of prayers...well that prayer is a lifeline really. Heavenly Father's always waiting on the line to hear us!
24. That the study and application of true doctrine/principles/teachings of Jesus Christ will change behavior faster and more efficiently than the study of behavior will change behavior.
25. How to see others the way Christ sees them, and to see others not as they are, but as they can become.
In reality, it's hard to put into words all the things my mission taught me while I was in Canada. I learned things about culture, people, and language. I laughed a lot and grew up a bunch. But of all the things I took away from my experience, the most important is my testimony of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, His example, and best of all His Gospel. I know it changes lives. Because it's changed mine.
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