While studying the scriptures this morning, I watched six Eagles play in the sky. They reminded me of kids on bikes chasing each other, going in circles, full speed ahead as they rode toward one another only to turn away at the last second. Swooping, and gliding silently in the crisp morning air looking very magestic.

         Today is Canada Day ( like our Fourth of July ).  We went to town to mingle with the people and the festivities . A huge old car show with cars from 1940ish to 1951 to the grand teenage cars of the 60's. Sadly, we could recognize most of them. Brought back a lot of memories. I even saw the "old green machine " my boyfriend drove and thought of the movie : "Two Mules For Sister Sarah ".

       We saw a Royal Candian Mountie in full dress uniform, he let me take a picture with him. There were booths of all kinds selling hand crafted art. It was really neat. Stan bought me a braclet from a lady whose Mum just died from Cancer.  And old man without any teeth was sitting in a booth with beautiful hand crocheted tablecloths, bedspreads and dolls of all sizes. The work was beautiful. I asked who the artist was and he said "it's me ".  He looked homeless with his uncombed hair, his empty eyes, wrapped in a piece of fabric for a coat.  But as he told me the many things he had made in his 35 years of crocheting, I felt such love for him & that Heavenly Father loves him just as He loves all of us. I told Stan I want to go buy him lots of thread so he can keep making things. Another jolly old lady was wearing the most amazing red hat. It was a happy hat with the lady beneath it happy too. She says she is retired so every Saturday she sits in the park and makes beautiful hand sewn items. I asked her if she always wears her hat. Only sometimes. I love hats ! We were able to meet and invite several people there.

         This week we had a zone meeting in Abbotsford. The zone leaders asked me to make a lunch for 26 people. I made homemade chicken noodle soup, rolls and brownies with marshmallow frosting. Everyone seemed  happy, the surprise was the mission president and his wife dropped in on our meeting. It's always great to hear them teach, but they are quite intimating.  The spirit was beautiful in the meeting especially when we stood and sang "Hope of Israel" with Stan playing the piano.

          This week we had a "Hope" miracle. A zone leader, Elder Tan from Singapore went on splits with Stan and I. After several doors and zero kindness, we found our miracle. We were walking along the edge of the lake, in the backyard of a cute cabin we could see people. We walked to the backyard and found a grandmother, Martha, a mum, Crystal, a granddaughter, Mya. We shared a wee bit of what we believe, got their contact information, as they were from Vancouver and prayed with them. It was a miracle they were at the right place, at the right time to meet missionaries that could teach them what they are searching for.

         After splits for hours, the three zone leaders, Elder Fisher and I were invited to my friends Betty's for dinner. Her husband is a non-member.  She served spegetti and meatballs. I happened to wear a pink blouse and white skirt, not knowing of course I would be eating spegetti. The funny story happened after I spilled a big clump of spegetti on my blouse & skirt. I tried to clean off my blouse by putting water on my servette which happened to be a dark green. In the mist of the subdued  laughter, one missionary pointed to me and said : " you have a spider on you ". I gasped & cried : "get it !" Stan quickly & forcefully smacked my blouse with his hand as he squished the intruding spider. I looked at the ugly guts hanging on my blouse next to the green smudges of spegetti as the young missionaries erruppted in loud laughter. It took a while for everyone to get composed.

       I loved telling the young missionaries to be wary of walking too close to the hedges here. There are big rats with sharp teeth and long tails that live in the hedges. They have immigrated here from the Neatherlands. All the locals have seen them. I told the missionaries they will jump right on your shoulder. Elder Tan from Singapore is a large muscular ex military officer, but he looked at me with dis-believing eyes. I told him "believe it " and he shivered.

          The gospel is true. A mission is an unique adventure. It's such a blessing to feel the spirit as we testify of Joseph Smith, of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, the beautiful Plan of Salvation. I love reading the Book of Mormon and studying it everyday. When we are removed from our normal daily life, comings and going, television, world news, activities and focus of our Savior everyday...our perspective is changed. We can see more clearly the things that really matter. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior , Jesus Christ with all my heart. What I want most is an eternal family. We love you all. Please each of you be a missionary where you are. People are waiting.

      Elder and Sister Fisher