FORTY-FOUR

Bonjour tout le monde!

Can you believe that it's July?! I turn 20 in two weeks (*hint hint* birthday packages are much appreciated)!! Crazy!! This is going to be a quick one because we have to get on the road and voyager à la ville de Québec. We have a zone activity later today (I think we're playing ultimate frisbee or something...) and then a zone study tomorrow morning where I'll be meeting my new mission president, President Patrick, (you may recognize him from the broadcast last Sunday), and his wife. I'm excited to finally meet them! I won't lie, it'll be a little weird having a new mission president. Well, not weird. Just different.

That'll take some getting used to...

Anyways, we have to get on the road in a few minutes so here's a quick look at what we've been up to in Rimouski!

We had Elders Wright and Cowling (Elder Ruby's MTC companion!) come from Chicoutimi for splits on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. Tuesday night we took them to the St-Jacques for dinner and lesson. They made us homemade poutine! So good! The St-Jacques are, as usual, doing amazing! Every time that I see Frère St-Jacques I'm just overwhelmed with how the Gospel can really change people's lives! Chantale had called earlier that day and wanted us to visit with the Chicoutimi elders so we swung by and... wow. They had a new neighbor over named Jossé. She's super nice, very caring, but it's apparent that she's been through a lot in her life. We talked about life and the blessings of a life lived according to the Gospel. Midway through the lesson a girl from the same apartment building ran into their apartment screaming and crying covered in blood. We had no idea what was happening but Chantale was apparently adept to this sort of occurrence and knew what to do. After calming and wiping her down she asked if we would pray with her. We did and boy was the Spirit strong in that room. We later found out that her ex-husband had come to threaten her then-boyfriend and she got between them and really took some hits. We gave her a blessing of comfort and Jossé was just shocked at how things had panned out. The next day we went over to check up on France (the girl who was in shock) and to help Jossé move into her apartment. She kept asking questions about what had happened and it opened so many doors for teaching opportunities. She already has a testimony of the power of the priesthood and suggested that we give a blessing to Chantale based on something that she knew was going on her private life. We have high hopes for Jossé!

Besides that, we met a journalist this week and we are going to have an article written about us! That'll be a great way to spread some awareness of who we are and what we do! I gained a new appreciation for Patriarchal Blessings and the wealth and depth of knowledge that can be had when living according to the Law of the Harvest. Elder Bangerter and I have really gotten to know each other and have become great friends already. I'm so grateful to be a missionary and to be serving the Lord in this capacity! 

We have to get going now, but not before pictures!

Splits with Chicoutimi. Never trust a camera to take a picture of you—you might get cut in half...

Oh, I also won at my first game of Risk ever. (Star Wars Edition)

Breakfast with four missionaries

Things coming up in July... the 4th! America!

My Birthday!

...and Pioneer Day!

We got sick of bringing our bikes up the stairs into the apartment so we chained them to our truck...

We rearranged our apartment. Now I can always keep an eye on Elder Bangerter.... creepy.

My last Scottie Dog. Mom, you know what that means :)

Well, I love you all! I hope you have a fantastic week! Happy 4th!

Avec amour,

Elder Ellis