The Apocalypse

Hello, loved ones! How is everybody doing? I'm missing you all terribly over here in rainy Montreal. This week felt like the end of days. There was an earthquake that I'm going to claim I could feel, and as a result the water supply for the whole city was tainted. I'm blaming the Mafia though and not some tiny earthquake for the fact that I had to pay two dollars for the last bottle of crappy Dasani water at the store. Oh well, at least I survived! Anyway, I hope everyone has a pleasant Memorial Day! I'm sad I can't visit graves with family today, but I'm thinking of you all. To start things off, I would just like to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to Grammy Nelson for sending me the most delightful package! It's a good thing I don't have a car out here, because I'm pretty sure I ate ten pounds of candy this weekend. Oh well, c'est la vie! Nevertheless, THANK YOU! Also, SHOUT OUT to my favorite Aunt Shannon for sending me my FAVE cereal! Sweet heavens. My companion was like, "Candy, for breakfast?" And I was like, "It's not candy, it's Reese's Puff Cereal!" Ha ha, je l'aime! Childhood flashbacks abounded this week. I literally cried tears of joy I was so happy. So THANK YOU! I feel so loved this week. 

So my life is pretty much crazy right now. Ha ha I don't think you would belieb half the things that happen to me out here. And to be honest, you would probably fear for my safety if I divulged some of the creepy encounters I've had, but I'll tell you some of my favorites. My number one was getting serenaded in the metros by a filthy homeless man on crack. He says to me, "Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?" And I was like, "No, never." And then he just jumps up and yells, "WHAT?!" screams a few profanities, and then proceeds to sing, "You... are.. so beautiful.... to meeee!" I cannot even begin to tell you how happy and embarrassed that made me. He then grabbed my hand and pulled me WAY too close. I was like... "Uhhh... I have to get off at this stop... and he's like, "Not before I give you a kiss!" Aaaand before any of you start to worry, he kissed my hand and let me free. So fabulous. That day I was grateful for hand sanitizer, to be sure. 

Last night we found another gem. Compy and I were out street contacting when we ran into a friendly Jewish man. He just kept saying, "Wow, you girls sure are beautiful. Why don't you have boyfriends?" And I was thinking, "Aside from the fact that I'm like the ICE QUEEN of the universe and a bra burning feminist, that's a very good question." LOL. He's going to set me up with his 30 year old son who's a lawyer. I kid you not, this offer was legit. He showed me pics and everything. I'm seriously STOKED! He told us we would make terrific wives. My eyes rolled so far into the back of my head that I thought they would get stuck there. Still, every Mormon girl's DREAM is to hear that, so I feel fulfilled. Ha ha in all honesty, I really did find this old man quite charming. At least he wasn't yelling profanities at us or telling us we were brain washed, schizophrenic, Bible hugging Jehovah's Witnesses (all of which I heard this week), so I'm totally game to marry his man treat Jewish lawyer son. 

This week was so, so great! We had the CUTEST girl from the Chinese branch serve with us as a mini missionary for four days. Such a gem! She made us sushi and bought us Chinese food from a sketch Chinese restaurant by our house. We were in heaven! I wouldn't mind keeping her around. ;) We also got to take her to zone conference this week, which to a missionary is seriously better than Christmas. In the morning Sister Cannon met us all for breakfast at a charming cafe. We're pretty decadent here in the CMM. :) I ordered the most heavenly raspberry sorbet. And you know me, I just loooove eating sorbet. Needless to say, zone conference was paradise for Sister Cutler. I got to make up for a month of elderless P-Days and flirt to my heart's content, so I'd say it was a success. Oh yeah, and the trainings were pretty great too. ;)

We had a challenging week, often getting caught in the rain, but coming home drenched, exhausted, and sketched out by metro urchans telling you that they're Jesus makes you feel like a true missionary. We had so many tender mercies this week though, so I feel truly blessed. Yesterday my favorite French family in the ward invited us over for Sunday gauffres, so I had my fill of Nutella and happy French chatter that I could only understand when their sweet girls said, "One Direction" or "Zane" or "Justin Bieber."

So far V-Day has been FABULOUS! Sister Varella and I went to walk around Old Montreal and Old Port today. The sun is finally out and I got to get my tourist on! We got maple ice cream and had a ball taking pictures. Now we're going to go home and hopefully do some much needed relaxing. I love you all SOOOOO much! I hope everyone is having a glorious day! Enjoy summer/spring/whatever you're having! Big hugs!

Love,

Sister Syl

The Week That Was

Bonjourrr! Hello lovers and friends! Did you miss me? Now, before you get yourselves all worked up, let me just dispel any rumors that I was abducted by a group of tall, dark, and scruffy maple syrup guzzling hockey players in the metro. Actually, maybe I'll just stick to that story... the alternative is not nearly as glamorous. Truth be told, last P-Day I was stranded in my apartment with a sick greenie, a couple boxes of Mac & Cheese, and a copy of Legacy to keep me entertained. PARTAY! I actually did manage though in the midst of all of this to smuggle four elders into our apartment, so I'd say my "elderless" P-Day was still a success! Scandalous, I know. Ha ha no, my sweet little compy needed a blessing, and they ended up leaving their man stink behind for the rest of the day, so it wasn't as exciting as it sounds. I hope everyone had a great couple of weeks! Mother's Day was a dream... talking to my family gave me a new lease on life. Seriously, the best.

So this week was hoppin. I honestly don't even know where to begin or what would even interest people because I feel like I live on a different planet! Aaah. Okay, so first of all, I had a premonition. A few nights ago I woke from the strangest dream. The following morning as I was "exercising" I  told compy that I had a dream that I was pregnant, and I was like, "Seriously, what am I supposed to make of this?" And she's like, "You have GOT to be kidding me... my companion is losing it." Well, it turns out I'm more in tune with things than people give me credit for. I'm having a baby! Ha ha I tease, I tease. But later that day I found out that we're getting a mini missionary this week! So I'm taking that as a sign from the universe. Pretty cool, eh? We have a cute girl from the Chinese branch coming to serve with us for the next few days. Wish me luck! We're excited.

In other news, I am currently teaching a Jehovah's Witness who is Greek and gorgeous but TOTALLY off limits. For several reasons, obviously. But it's still fun, nevertheless. My investigators are seriously the coolest people! This week my fave investigator bought us Italian food, and last week he rented Million Dollar Baby, Taken, and Mercy for us to watch. I was so heartbroken when I had to tell him that this was WAY off limits. But then I was like, "What on earth made you think we would want to watch Taken anyway?" And he's like, "I was trying to send you girls a message so that you would stop going on the metros and going to dangerous areas at night." Ha ha. Like that'll ever happen. I live and BREATHE the soft stench of the metros! Wouldn't have it any other way. Yesterday Sister Varela and I were harassed by a couple of guys when we were out after dark, but they were obviously high and obviously in need of the gospel. He told me he wanted me to be his personal mentor. Lately we've been running into men who want to meet with either me alone or Sister Varela alone, and to be honest, I'm tired of all the dates. I am seriously going to have no patience for dating once I get home if it keeps on being this way.

Other than that, our week went soooo well! We met and exceeded some of our goals, so today we're treating ourselves to frozen yogurt. I haven't had frozen yogurt since I left Utah, so I'm out of my mind excited. Normally I managed to get free frozen yogurt a few times a week back home when I went on dates, so now I'm going to have to pay for myself. New experiences happening everyday out here, that's for sure. Ha ha last Saturday we also got to go party at the mission home for Phillipino family home evening. MY FAVE! Phillipinos are obviously my favorite people out here. This morning I also decided to do service for P-day. The Mormons and the Jews and the HIndus in the area teamed up for an Inter-Faith Eco-Action project for Victoria Day, so I spent the better part of the morning picking up cigarette butts and saving them for later. Can't wait! Ha ha but really, this community is the best. I can't get enough of the diversity out here! I'm loving every minute with this crazy bunch.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a glorious week! Soak up the sun or rain or whatever it is you're having! Go watch The Great Gatsby or Star Trek in my honor. I will try to remain happy with The Joseph Smith Movie or The Testaments. Mmmm... love me some steamy Nephite! If anyone wants to send me the Emma Smith movie, I will love you forever. God bless you all! Sending all of my love and joy your way!

Love,

Sylvia

The Lusty Month of May

It's May... it's May... the LLLUSTY month of May! Tee hee! Hello everyone! My dearest, dearest family and friends! How the heck is everyone? Wow. I seriously think this was the longest week of my life! So much has happened. One minute it was winter, the next it was spring, and now suddenly it's summer! Serious mood swings with the weather out here. Montreal is PMSing worse than a poser punk rock group right now, but I looove it! The days are gorgeous and I am slowly but surely turning into a leathery old lobster. Tres, tres chic! I hope you are all enjoying very fine weather. Soak up the sun! #cherylcrow

So this week was ever so hectic, but I've totally got my groove on again. Last P-Day was SUCH A FUN DAY! Seeing as P-Day has now become a "girls only" club, Sister Foniciello and I decided to shed some Nutella and hike Mont Royal with a couple of my favorite chicas on the mission. Oh my, it was GORGEOUS! I desperately needed to be out in nature for a change after this long winter. Montreal is seriously the coolest. Who can say "let's go downtown for a hike?" In the middle of the city? Montreal is my place, I tell you. I miss my canyons and mountains like you wouldn't believe, but Montreal hasn't let me down just yet. After the hike I was able to see my favorite cousin Joe and his girlfriend. (Sorry cousins, maybe if you come to Montreal and take me to get Vietnamese food you can be added to the favorites list too.) It was seriously CRAZY to see someone I knew from my former life! Definitely brought me to tears, but let's not talk about what a huge baby I've become on my mission. Anyway. It was tons of fun, so SHOUT OUT to Joe and Priscilla for showing my companion and me a good time in Montreal!

Things got a little sad later in the week as I said farewell to my little fledgling Sister Foniciello. I'm going to miss my honey bunches baby cakes, but she has amazing things in store for her in Quebec! My new little greenie is Sister Varela from Riverton, UT, and she is absolutely phenomenal! Ha, she's probably teaching me more than I'm teaching her. I am so blessed! I took her for her first poutine this week, so she is now fully initiated into the CMM. I also took her for her first metro contacting experience soon after, and I would say it went quite well. We were talking to these adorable Chinese girls about sushi... I mean.. about the gospel... in the metro, and what do you think happened? No, they didn't agree to come to church. But! This girl just reaches into her bag and gives us a whole tray of sushi! Like, seriously? Who does that? And on the metro, no less. So not going to lie, I'd say my companion had a fabulous first day here in Montreal. 

Yesterday I had a creeper-ific experience at church. Some elders in the ward have a new investigator that really digs sister missionaries. He's quite the character, and quite too middle-aged for me as well. However, he was bold enough to ask me if I had a fiancé waiting for me back home, to which I was like, "Uhhh... should I lie and say that I do just so we can end this awkward conversation before it gets started?" But of course I told the truth, because, well, I'm a missionary. And then he started talking about how he would love to date me if he ever joined the church, that he already had five kids but that he wanted to start over and have a new family with a young wife. And I was like... "That's okay. I'd rather live in a cat infested shack. Thanks though!" Ha ha. Too, too funny. I love when awkward stuff like that happens.

Well, I hope everyone had a great week! We are killing it out here and working our bootays off! Seriously, my new companion is tons of fun. I'm excited to see what the next few weeks bring! We're just bible bashing around with TJs (Jehovah's Witnesses) and loving every minute in this crazy town! Also, SHOUT OUT to my girl Stiners! I hope your birthday was fabulous! You are so, so loved. I hope you're reading this... but if not, someone tell her HAPPY 20th for me! Anyway, I hope everyone is doing so great! Peace and blessing to you all! Enjoy the spring. Big loves and big kisses! 

Love,

Sylvia