People of Montreal

Its official world. It has snowed here. And I have broken out the winter coat, as well as half of Montréal.

Speaking of which many people have asked me to tell any funny stories, so in keeping with the oncoming winter I'm going to tell this one. My companion and I were waiting in line to receive some medication when a rather large woman (I mean large as in tall and well built not as in «woah that girls has eaten way to many poutines») An elderly oriental gentleman, who was standing behind me in the line, flinched and gasped as she walked by. Of course, me being the onlooker, made eye contact with the gentleman. He told me in French «That woman scared me,» He asked me why I was here (obviously asking for what need I was in the pharmacy) and I took the opportunity to say I'm a missionary. After determining I was from the United States and that I had never felt a winter as hard as those in Montreal the conversation quickly turned to ancient Chinese medical practices. After instructing me to put onions on my feet for a cold he told me he knew how to never get sick in the winter and that he wanted to show us. Well after we had received what we were waiting for the man led us over to a wall and promptly instructed us how to get rid of winter sickness. This took the form of the man slamming his head against the wall seven times while not breathing. If any would like to try this it is seven times for a man and nine for a woman. I had to try so hard not to laugh at the fact that this man was slamming his head on a wall in a Pharmaprix in the middle of Montreal Canada.

Well considering the conversation above was in full French I believe I am growing in the language. I have been mistaken twice as someone from France and told four times that I do not have an American accent. *Fist pump* I seem to have mastered understanding the Quebecois accent and now I need to understand the Haitian accent. The area we are working in has a high Haitian population (say that five times fast) and therefore a high possibility of eating Haitian food every night. And as I am sure my wonderful cousin in the south can attest that Haitian food is heavenly.

Good news! I got all moved in!

This weeks miracle is this. We visit with a woman in the group that is young woman age, but since there is no young woman`s program in our little almost branchist thing we help her with her personal progress. We were doing so one day and we noticed that there was something bothering her. Afterwards we were talking about the lesson, my companion decided to call her up and ask her if she would like a blessing. Something about Sister Avemai is that she has such a testimony in the priesthood that she never stops seeking for the opportunity to share it with others. The sister said yes and we scheduled a time with the Elders so that they could give the blessing. The change in this sixteen year old girl from before and after the blessing was instant. She felt the love from the blessing and you could tell that a huge burden had been lifted off of her shoulders. We do not know what was the thing that burdened her so much but I can honestly say that I have never before been in a lesson that the spirit has been so strong. I know that this church is true and I know it holds the true authority from God to give priesthood blessings such as this. I love this Gospel and I love these people. And I know Montreal will forever have a place in my heart.