Ben's Mission to Toronto

From Ben - Relief Society Mid conversation with a random dude on the street, comes this guy on a bike, blazing towards us.  "Hebrew Isrealites! Hebrew Isrealites!! These men lie!"  Then he blazed away.  It was so awesome. (Both for the fact that it actually happened, and that he called us men)  We explained to our friend that we were not in fact, Hebrew Isrealites. (We were, however, tempted to shout back at the bike guy, in a cool kind of way, that we were in fact of the tribe of Ephriam, son of Joseph of Egypt, son of Jacob, but we refrained)  Our friend accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and a Resto Pamphlet, and we proceeded to go and have lunch. The small day to day adventures really spice up the giant soup of life  Us Weston missionaries (Elder Olson, Low, Durant and I) were invited to participate in a relief society event that happened on Saturday. The Relief Society President and counselors were getting released, and it was partially a farewell t...

From Ben - Our Foundation for Joy The steady drumbeat of life continues to thrum.  But then! The cymbals come flying out of nowhere! Throwing the drum in a frantic increase of tempo! A hidden orchestra in the back reveals itself and a conductor with wild hair begins to wave his baton. Oh gosh! It's a incredible! Colors and vibrancy explode in an amazing flurry of music!  Tears come easy to the audience as the conductor carries his majestic band of musicians through the telling of amazing triumphs and terrible tragedies. The little drummer in the middle, 5'6", strawberry blonde hair, glasses, a bit of a nerd, was surprised that, for a moment, he was getting bored. He forgot he was in The Orchesta with friends and  musicians around him, and even for a moment, The Conductor.  It was a good week :) On Wednesday, Elder Morphis, Hermana Pearson and I finally attempted to make our music video.  Them on the violins, me on the keys.  We brought in Elder Buetler, thi...

From Ben - A Master Gringo I am surrounded by heroes.  19-21 year olds.  Each of which with their own challenges, weaknesses and issues.  Each of which fighting to conquer their weaknesses so they can help others find genuine peace and joy.  On Thursday I got to go on an exchange with an Elder Christensen.  He is 6'0, blonde, has a trained smile, speaks Spanish, charismatic, is a Zone Leader and works hard.  Basically what any outside individual would consider a successful missionary, or just, successful.  But what makes him a difference maker, is that he is kind.  He offered to put on my coat for me! It was SO SMALL of an act.  But I almost couldn't believe it.  The phrase 'by small and simple things are great things brought to pass' is becoming less and less of a mystery.  That is EXACTLY how it's supposed to go.  Putting my own coat on means basically nothing to me.  It's so easy.  So easy that I haven't even consi...

From Ben - LYR Syndrome There are two CTM Staples.  Two things that every missionary of the Canada Toronto Misson must be a partaker of or they're not doing it right.  Muji Pens, and Osmows Chicken Shwarma Poutine.  There is nearly nothing better then Osmows chicken shwarma poutine.  It's so unhealthy it's actually unbelievable, but it tastes like something I've never eaten before.  I don't know what they put in it, but it may not be legal, I'm telling you.  The amount of dollars that poutine has inhaled out of my wallet is exceptional. Anyways, after every Zone Conference, it is tradition to go and eat one of these beautiful creations.  They offer something like five or six hot sauce levels  The lowest being nothing, and the hottest being Scorchin'. I've gotten to the second hottest, Very Hot.  Every time I eat one of these Very Hot chicken shwarma poutines, my stomach is shocked that I would eat anything that brutally unhealthy.  It ri...