.: Montreal, part 3 (Sunday)

Well, we took fewer pics Sunday so this will be shorter, which is good since it's getting late. We went to church in Longueuil, where the guys had enjoyed much success all those years ago. They were delighted to find so many members they had known who have stayed firm in he faith and raised strong families in the gospel as well. They guys both bore beautiful testimonies (at least they sounded good to me in French) and the choir sang my favorite song, "Lead, Kindly Light." What is that chance of that, singing a song on fast day for one, and then having it be my very favorite hymn? I know it sounds selfish, but I really felt like that was for me. One of the first sisters we saw that morning was Sis. Pineau (pictured below). She's as cute as can be! She fed the missionaries every week and her husband, though not LDS himself, supported her in all her church work and was great to the missionaries. Matt and Ryan were thrilled to learn that after much prayer and fasting on Sis. Pineau's part, her husband has now joined the church and serves faithfully in the ward there.

Here's Sis. Levert. They lived in Trois Riviere when Matt was there, but have since moved to Longueuil to be closer to the temple.

Later we went to dinner with Sonia and Nader. They have four kids, same as us, and I got such a kick out of watching them. They were so kind to open their home and invite the whole family plus some friends over to dinner. Of course they made us feel right at home, serving BBQ'd hamburgers and hot dogs.

Here's everyone at dinner. What a group, eh?

Matt decided to take a try on Nader's Egyptian lute. Not exactly the same as the banjo.

Nader showing us how it's done.

Matt and Ryan with Bro. and Sis. Carron. Bro Carron was ward mission leader when Matt and Ryan served in Longueuil. He made a prediction that there would be a temple someday in Montreal and Matt and Ryan, with all their youthful vigor and vim, solemnly promised that they would both be there at the dedication if that ever happened. Well the temple was dedicated June 10, 2000. Mason was born July 16th of that year, and I think the Vehars were either pregnant or taking care of a newborn as well. Both new fathers often reflected over the years with some remorse on the unkempt promise, but thankfully Bro. Carron forgave them and was thankful that they did indeed keep the promise, albeit a little late.

Here's the gang. Matt and Ryan were the same age as Sonia and Mark, pictured here in the middle. They somehow organized some very fun activities and found ways to fit them under the premise of doing the Lord's work. I'm still not sure how playing baseball and sliding down hills on blocks of ice (in the summer) helped the work move along, but all the locals still talk about it after all these years, so that's something.

Gang with spouses.

Here's Le Famille Thibault. I'm eternally grateful to them, they were so sweet. Sis. Thibault doesn't speak a word of English, but she provided all of us with warm knitted slippers to wear in the house, and she let Shannon and I crash on her couches for a few minutes while the guys all chatted away in French.