Wednesday, December 30, 2015



It has been chilly but not worse than usual. It hasn't snowed in a
while, but here the snow never really goes away. I can usually get
away with only a sweater, but every now and again I have to break out
the big coats. Gloves and toques are always a necessity, and scarves
are also useful.

Christmas was a lot of fun. We had a big party on the 23 and president
some. He had to have a translator, but it was still really good. Then
we had food and danced. It was a lot of fun. Several people showed up
that we'd invited. We helped clean up and got home late. On Christmas
we super home and had a dinner with a really cool recent convert my
last companion baptized. They wanted to go out, but the only thing
open was Dennie's, so we ate there. It was a fun time.

We recently picked up a new investigator. He is living with a member
who picked him up off the street and is giving him a place to stay. He
is trying to quit smoking, so we are trying to help. We have been
trying to meet almost everyday with him. He has been doing well, and
is a cool guy. We also have another family with a Spanish husband, a
Cambodian wife who understands very little English (and no Spanish)
and a granddaughter who helps us interpret. We are working on getting
a member who speaks her language and a Book of Mormon in her language.
That would help her a lot... we hope.

A lot of people have been busy but after the busy season we should be
able to meet with more people. In Canada, they celebrate Boxing Day,
which is more like Black Friday than any other holiday. Plus most
places expand it to be boxing week, so everyone is still busy.

I've been well. The best wishes to all.

Élder Grimmer

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

It has gotten down to -20 every now and again, mainly at night. When
it's humid it gets really cold, and the moisture seeps right through.
Some days are colder than others. Not too bad though, at least not
yet.

We had our Christmas conference this Thursday. It was really fun.
President talked, there were a lot of musical numbers, and food. We
all got to talk and mingle for a little while, which was fun. We have
been inviting everyone to our Christmas party. We did teach a few
people. I have been driving in the snow, and am getting more
comfortable in it. It has been slow, but that is probably because of
the holidays. I'm doing alright.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015




We did get the snow that was forecasted... and a whole lot more.
Sunday it snowed so hard our car had at least two inches when we left
church. It slowed down but kept coming. This morning we had a flash
snowstorm. When I got up it was not snowing, we got in the car and it
was coming down like crazy, and when we got out of the store, it had
stopped. Well, I guess that's Canada. It hasn't been too cold, only
down to -8 or so (I speak in celcius so about 17 degrees) at the
coldest. Or at least the coldest we were out in. It's the humidity the
snow clouds bring that really gets you though. That and wind. I guess
I'm adapting because I don't feel it that much anymore. Though we did
a finding idea where we all stand outside when it was -6 and gave out
free hot chocolate. I felt the cold then, but only really at my feet
and hands.
So I've been driving; I started yesterday. Our car is decent, but has
no 4wd, so the snow can suck at times. And yes, I did drive through
the snowstorm this morning. The mission's logic is that Edmonton
should shovel the snow so we could drive, and therefore we don't need
trucks or even 4wd. Yea, they SHOULD shovel... Anyways, we get by. One
of our investigators went to Colombia for Christmas, but we got his
email and we can skype him. We had a ton of less active and recent
convert work this week. Not too many investigators lessons, but that's
okay. If anyone has not had the chance, they should check out
Christmas.mormon.org. It very good.
I hope you can all have a very merry Christmas this year.

Élder Grimmer



Tuesday, December 8, 2015

This week we've had good weather, plus 3 and plus 5 in the day time,
not too much wind, and only -5 or so at night. A lot of the snow has
melted, but most is still there. We are expecting more snow tomorrow.
It has been really warm overall. The Canadians are loving it.
This week we did more work with less actives than investigators. We
still taught, and some were really good lessons, but I think we spent
the most time doing service. We set up two or three Christmas trees,
helped people move, and did some work for habit for humanity. We
worked at what is called the re-store, kinda like a mix of the Home
Depot and goodwill. We taught one of our less actives using the
Christmas devotional. It froze halfway through and he had a question
about the plan they talked about. We taught the entire plan of
salvation, and then watched the rest of it. It was a really good
lesson. We taught another less active using a video. It was good also,
and then we read from the bible about Christ's birth in Luke 2.
Apparently he didn't know that Christ was born in Bethlehem. That was
a bit strange. We just got supplies to make sugar cookies, and we've
been making banana bread. These are fun times.
I hope the best for you all.
Élder Grimmer

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Thanksgiving in Canada





I assume that when I go out side and its -3 and I don't feel cold,
that means I'm getting used to it. I am saving most of my heavy gear
for later when it gets really cold. It have been relatively warm in
the days but nights are always cold.
In Canada they celebrate thanksgiving in October, as by November they
wouldn't have much to be thankful for. But we wanted to have an
American thanksgiving, so we bought a 20 lb turkey, others bought
potatoes, rolls, stuffing, cranberry sauce, drinks, etc. We had our
district meeting on Thursday and most the missionaries were there. We
should up at 7 to cook it. A sister who is also the housing director
from the mission lent us the pan and told us how to cook it. It turned
out awesome, and we gave them some of the leftovers. It was a great
experience, and a lot of fun!
  We've had a slow week, but we did find some people.we went on splits
with the zone leaders and found an awesome Spanish guy. It was funny
because I ended up with 3 dinners that night. Some members wanted us
to come at 3, and they fed us molé and it was awesome, then I had
dinner with some members from the other elder's ward. Then later we
contacted a former, and I asked if there were any Spanish people in
the neighbourhood. He said right across the street, so we knocked.
They let us right in and gave us authentic tacos and horchata. It was
really good. It turned out the dad was a super inactive member, and
the wife's family were jehovah's witnesses. We came back on Sunday and
taught the father. Sadly no horchata that time. It was a direct answer
to a prayer, as I had prayed to find a Spanish person.
I've been well. I love you all.

Élder Grimmer