:: My Return To The Field ::

It's true what the scriptures say, "As ye sew, so shall ye reap." Last week I was given the opportunity to enjoy some of the wonderful blessings of seeds sewn in years past. I just returned home from an incredible week in Canada visiting my old mission with my first mission companion Erin, her darling son Eli, and her Mum. In case you missed the reason for the trip, read my last post "Oh C-A-N-A-D-A!" for a little refresher. It was a wonderful week full of exciting adventures and enjoying the fruits of my labors. Feel free to join me as a I take a walk down memory lane.


SATURDAY: Saturday morning after a long flight we were up early and off to the Regina Saskatchewan Temple for Stacy's Endowment session. I have so many wonderful memories in this beautiful edifice. The session inside was indescribable and a tender mercy from the Lord. It was an occasion I will not soon forget.

After our spiritual feast we headed down to one of our favorite local spots, East Side Mario's for another kind of feasting. The rest of the evening consisted of some sightseeing, lots of visiting with old and new friends , and a potluck with the Young Single Adults in the city. It was the perfect day!


SUNDAY: Sunday morning Stacy asked if I'd do her hair and makeup for Church. Of course! We did some loose curls and a sexy red lip. What a knock-out! After Church was over we all decided to head to Wascana lake and enjoy the beautiful day. We took a ton of pictures in front of Parliament, walked around the lake, and even fed the Canadian geese.

After a gorgeous afternoon we went back to Stacy's and enjoyed some Root Beer floats and cozied up while we watched On The Lord's Errand, a fantastic movie about the Prophet Thomas S. Monson. I am in awe of the man and the way he allowed the Lord to shape his life. This 60 minute dvd is a must see.


MONDAY: With the weekend over it was time to leave Regina for a little while and head to Winnipeg for some more sightseeing and to visit old friends. The day consisted mostly of driving the flat plains of Saskatchewan and Manitoba for 6 hours, a quick stop in Brandon, a visit to an old investigator in Erin's first area in Portage, and who can forget the stop at Goodies for some delicious pastries and treats.


TUESDAY: For our last day in Winnipeg we decided to pack in all the sightseeing we could! After meeting with an old investigator downtown, we visited The Fork's, the part of town where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet, then toured the museum, stopped by our old apartment, then visited St. Boniface, the french quarter of Winnipeg where some of the most fantastic wall murals and old cathedrals are. Before heading back to Regina we stopped at Assiniboine Park and grabbed ourselves some Slurpees for the long road back. Afterall, Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world. Bet you didn't know that!

After the long 6 hour drive back to Saskatchewan we stopped for some dinner at Regina's first mexican food restaurant (still bitter there wasn't one when I was serving there). The food really wasn't very good, but it was a nice break from the greasy food found all over town. We tried to see a movie afterwards, but everything was sold out so we settled on some Blizzards from DQ and a thunder and lighting storm. I forgot how incredibly beautiful prairie lighting storms can be.


WEDNESDAY: I decided to extend my trip until Thursday because Wednesday, July 1st was CANADA DAY!!! We all celebrated the birth of the country with a matinee movie and some partying in the park. We met up with some old friends from the YSA ward we knew while serving in Regina and just enjoyed the music, hot dogs, and mini-donuts. We opted not to stay up for the fireworks show at 10:30 (the sun doesn't go down til then in the summer!) since I had to have Erin and her Mum to the airport by 3:30am. Yuck! But I DID listen to the fireworks as I fell asleep that night. I'm sure they were beautiful.

And now, after all is said and done and I've returned home to my family and friends, I can't help but feel blessed for all the many blessings that have come into my life for serving a mission. I am a strong believer that the service a missionary renders on their mission will stand to bless them throughout the years and many generations over.