OH CANADAAA!!!!!!

Hey Family! I'm in Canada!!!!! the weather isn't horrendous, they say it's been a pretty mild. it hasn't dropped bellow 14 degree's whilst I've been outside. usually it's in the 20's. the sun comes up around 9:30 and sets around 4:30.. not that you can really tell because it's almost always cloudy. My companion is awesome! Elder Allen is his name and he's been out for 16 months. He's the salt of the earth and he is teaching me well.  I have been assigned to labor in a town just outside of the capitol (Edmonton) - a place called St. Albert. my area inside the city is called mission hill- so named because their is a Catholic Church.... on a hill. Quite an  appropriate name I think :) So about miracles: they really do happen. On my first day tracting, after about an hour, we came across a house that was advertising crafts. after ringing the door bell a short native american woman answered and my companion skillfully asked if we could see her "craft" set- up. She invited us in and showed us her beads and jewelry she was selling. We then talked to her about the Book of Mormon and how it is a record of her ancestry, to whom Jesus Christ appeared. She was immediately receptive to the idea and she reads her bible twice a day but doesn't belong to a specific church. Well, not yet anyway haha :). She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and will probably be coming to church next week!!! So stoked! I'm surprised at how much I remember about the world and about other countries- it has helped me build upon common ground with people. Just know little bits about lots of cultures and histories has helped me to love people that I have never met. An old couple that isn't particularly interested in the church invited us in to come play on the piano. They are from Denmark originally and supper cool! they just like beer a bit too much. The husband, Henning Larson, was dressed in the most hilarious multicolored pajamas (I think they where pajama's) with red socks and sandals! He was in his 80's and has a white beard. he invited us down stares where he has the coolest room I have ever seen: the walls were covered with advertisements and pictures from the old county and then their was the piano: 1890's vintage and in mint condition. my comp. played some while Henning rocked in his chair with a smile on his face. Then I played a little, including an Irish song- and that got him exited because He had a lot of Irish friends and he recognized it! Evidently he lived through WWII in Denmark and it scared him a bit. He didn't want to talk about it at first but he opened up when I shared a little of what I knew. after the war he took his new bride on a motor scooter with a small tent and traveled Europe. He was drafted after the war into the Danish army and operated a Brenn Gun! He spoke of Christian the 10th, the king of Denmark, who would ride his horse around the square in Copenhagen every morning during the occupation. I told him that I had seen the old footage of when the king rode through the city on the day of liberation and he remembered and it brought tears to his eyes. I think he had hid those memories away a bit. I do not know if Henning will ever join the church but I love him dearly and his sweet wife. Jesus Christ is surely at the head of this work and he has sent missionaries forth before his face, so that we might prepare men to receive him when he comes. And he is surely coming. I miss you all like crazy!!!! Thank you so much for the electric blanket!! our apartment is pretty warm, just like all the houses out here haha! I am amazed at how thoughtful you have been ( and by you I mean mother) in sending me so many nice things! Oh.. I can't find any Chicken Pot Pies here. If the shortage continues I'll not be happy. Haha, just kidding, I'll survive. Got stuff for crepes and biscuits and gravy, and little blueberry waffles. My comp is also a good cook- and almost as parsimonious as myself! I'll give you an update next week! love and miss you all! Hurrrah for Israel.

Affectionately,

Elder Higginson

 oh and Yellow Knife is not closed in the Winter: a couple of poor sufferin' suckatash's are up there now! Prselytin' in the - 40 celcious. They made sure to have us not go out in -40 weather in other parts of Canada.