Our first 6 weeks in the mission

The first trip to the Cardston Temple - it is a beautiful, interestingly shaped temple It was a zone missionary trip - took about 40 minutes to drive there.

We took 4 of the elders in our van, the others rode with members.

This was the first baptism we attended. Elder Owens had golden images of the Cardston temple made up to bring with us and we will be giving one to each new convert and the member who was responsible.

This picture doesn't do it justice - it is a very detailed impression and you can even read the words over the temple door.

One of our first assignments was to speak at the University of Lethbridge Institute. This is the Institute director: Bro. Wood. Elder Owens is demonstrating the lesson on Repentance: burning a hole in the shirt. Bro. Wood was a good sport and 'by magic' the burned part disappeared!! Elder Owens also had the whole group involved in the lesson.

One of the most interesting things that have happened is the "hoar frost" that has occurred about 3 times so far. It starts with a fog that covers the city and the next morning we wake

UP TO THIS!!! We can't get enough pictures of this beautiful frost

(got to remember that we come from the desert of Arizona) Try playing basketball with this!!

Even the car antenna was covered - amazing, eh. (that's Canadian for a ? mark)

We pay good money to have our Christmas trees flocked like this one:

And it isn't too cold -

as long as you don't have to stay out in it too long

Spiderman came with us - he snuck into the van - we didn't know it until we unpacked. The Elders are glad he came - they have had alot of fun with him!!

Enjoying a soak in the tub Personal study time is very important to the missionary program

...and Spiderman is very dedicated to the work Companion study is on the daily schedule: Elder Shupe and Spiderman deep in conversation

HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY FEB. 2, 2010 Some of the Elders and Sisters braved the groundhog breakfast. Our Owens' family has been celebrating Groundhog's day for 39 years with a biscuit and gravy breakfast.

It was also one of the missionaries' birthday: Elder Funk

We tried to surprise him, but he recognized the cars on the street.

The other big event was a trip to Calgary for a dinner at the Mission Home with 3 other Senior Couples and the President and his wife.

Sister Archibald is the one in the apron next to me

President Archibald is on the right.

The mission home was beautiful and we stayed overnight.

We have had alot of fun in our home: here the Sisters are practicing a 'string trick' that Elder Owens taught them. (I'm really fine, just a bad picture!) They have a "p-day eve" tradition of going to Dairy Queen for treats - well that has changed- it is now to come to Elder and Sister Owens' for treats. P-day is spent shopping, doing laundry, emailing letters home (using the computers at the public library) and then meeting at the church for basketball and volleyball. Well, they have a new passion: Blockus game. Glad we brought that from home!! The Elders call and have Elder Owens go on splits with them to do some "finding". Well, guess what they found this day - a herd of deer. We keep hearing that there are deer all over town, but this was our first 'sighting' and Elder Owens was very excited!

Yes, he is the one in the sunglasses THE DAY COMES WHEN SOME OF THE ELDERS AND SISTERS ARE GIVEN NEW ASSIGNMENTS - SO WE HAVE TO GET THOSE LAST PICTURES OF EVERYONE!!

This is our whole zone taken in a series of timed flash photography

Pretty good looking group

THE CHURCH IS TRUE AND WE ARE LOVING THIS WORK!!