Elder Collin DeWitt: WEEK EIGHTY SIX

Election day was yesterday for Alberta provincial elections. People have been going around and getting support for their candidates, and there are a LOT of campaign posters around. The two major political parties in this last election are the NDP (New Democratic Party) and the UCP (United Conservative Party). We were walking back from a dinner appointment in our suit coats, when we walked into a group of elementary school kids standing on the sidewalk in front of us.

One of the boys brazenly demanded, "UCP or NDP?"

I explained that we were missionaries, not political people. They didn't know what missionaries were, so I explained what we do. I did encourage them to vote when they get older, since that is the only stance that the church takes on politics. As we walked away, the kids started chanting "UCP! UCP! UCP!". It seems like Canadians aren't excited about politics 99% of the year, until the week of elections. Then even the kids get into it.

We got a random call in the middle of personal study from an old guy that we had helped earlier in the month moving furniture. He told us that his friend had fallen down the stairs and couldn't get up, and asked us to come and help him. We told him we would come, but I was pretty sure he had meant to call 911. We showed up, and he pointed down a long, steep flight of stairs to where another old guy was sitting at the bottom. I noticed a big hole in the drywall at the top of the stairs, and some blood on the floor. As we got down to the guy who had fallen, we saw that he had an extremely swollen black eye, and what looked like a broken finger. I suggested that we call an ambulance instead, but he said he wouldn't because it would cost $1,000. The guy definitely needed an ambulance. We helped him stand and brought him upstairs, and over to his house next door. Brothers and sisters, missionaries can help with a lot of stuff, but we aren't paramedics. Please don't be stubborn and stupid and not call 911 when you really need it. That's what it's there for.

We were supposed to have an appointment with a potential investigator named Sam this week, but he had to cancel. We walked by his house yesterday and caught him outside! He said he was just leaving for Saskatchewan, but that he would let us know when we could meet. That was a little miracle!

Since I'm the district leader, I have to do the baptismal interviews for everyone in our district. Last p-day, I did the baptismal interview for Dahabo who is awesome! She's faced a lot of difficulty in investigating the church, but she was baptized this last Saturday! She's determined to stay active and serve in the church. This Monday, I'll have to interview, not one, not two, but THREE people for baptism. It's AWESOME. They're all out in Brooks, which is an hour drive.

Kathy came to church on Sunday with her boyfriend Darren who is a returning less-active member! It was great to see them, since it has been a while since we had seen them in person. Lindsey also came to church! (She is Sister Schow's friend.) We haven't started teaching her yet, but Sister Schow has a great relationship with her, which is great.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder DeWitt