The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Barrie Ontario Stake

06/09/2026

Yo this'll be quick. Another Email from Elder McLaren.

Notsé is the best. I'm just learning to love every minute of being here as a missionary. I love my comp and this sector. I thank God for my calling to be here as a missionary and to serve these people. “Joy cometh in the morning”.

Elder Henriksen made it up here in Notsé so it's been sweet having him around. Dude shows gratitude every time. He enjoys my food.

Conférence de Zone demain so J'ai hâte!! Le thème est au sujet d'être un missionnaire consacré so I'm excited to see what final council President Lundeen has pour nous. Aussi it'll be my last interview with him je pense alors I'm excited to see what final advice he has for me personnellement. Sorry that j'écris this paragraph en frenglish.

Also stake conference this Sunday so we're heading down to Agoé stake center!!! Elder Hays is gonna be there so that's what's up!

Anyways just a quick thought.

Dallin H. Oaks is a great guy, elect even. As the prophet of Jesus Christ's church it's easy to say he's wise. Well back in October of 2007 he gave a great talk that is very much applicable in our daily lives that we should heed.

“Good, Better, Best” will make you ask yourself if the decisions or choices you make are either just good, better, or even the best options. Good choices aren't great if there is still a better or even a best option, how do you apply this thinking in your daily choices?

A small example… It's good to have hobbies for your weekend plans, it's better to go to church on Sunday, it's best to actively participate in church meetings and classes.

Think of others daily examples that you can apply this good, better, best principle in your life.

I love you all truly!!

This is the way.

Elder McLaren

06/09/2026

I hope you are looking at his photo's -Elder Gawthroupe's last 5 weeks of his mission.

Bonjour!

Welcome back to South America.

Stuff:

- hit 700 days as a missionary.

- had my last transfer call. I'm staying and I got a new comp from Tahiti. He's an absolute beast. Gonna be a fun transfer fs.

- got "threatened" by a crazy old guy walking to an appointment. We told him to get out of our way. He looked at my 6'3 jacked Tahitian comp. He got out of our way.

- spent all of saturday in a hospital 'tmashupyourhandwithamachetewhilecuttingbamboo

- ate a french guiyane delicacy. Apparently they only make it like twice a year and it's very expensive. Shout-out to the best members oat🗣

Overall it's been pretty good down here. Tryna lock in for my last (checks calendar) five wee- bro what the heck I only have five weeks left? The time's been going so fast honestly. I know that my last week will either feel like one day or one month, no in between. Guess we'll see in a bit.

Tout moun, sonje ke Bondye renmenw pi pase kew ka konprann!

Google photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VrYfuR8DMnsHP2Px7

Stay blessed,

Elder Gawthroupe

Shared album · Tap to view!

06/07/2026

Another Email from Elder McLaren. Transfers, Henry B Eyring, and We Got Work to Do.

Yo yo yo!!!!! So hyped to write to y'all today!

First off Sœur Bridgitte got baptized yesterday!!! Oh she had such a strong desire to be baptized she understands the blessings of the gospel so well she rocks!!!

Last Monday we had a super fun, sweet, and spiritual activity with the branch! Us Elders ran the activity with a team cup stacking competition to explain unity and then love, share, and invite messages for all the members. I love this branch so much I'm connecting so well with the members!

This week was sorta rough but we pulled through. Our district had a big baptismal goal this past month and we achieved it despite challenging circumstances. This week Elder Nsimba (other Notsé equipe) dealt with some serious pain in his back and couldn't make it out to sector which completely blew up their plans for their baptismal candidates. However Elder Williams and I divised a plan (approved by DL of course) to run an exchange so that Elder Williams could stay with Elder Nsimba in the hospital and then I would support Elder Lorenzon to help accomplish the necessary work in their sector (foreshadowing btw).

So all was well, their friends got baptized and so did Bridgitte!! Beautiful Sunday services yesterday!

Alright, here's transfer news…

Elder Williams and I are staying!!!! I get to “kill him off” (I'm his last companion before his mission is done). So hyped we've been getting along like I do with peanut butter so that's what's up. Elder Nsimba will be heading down to some neighborhood in Lomé and Elder Lorenzon is becoming DL up here and Elder Henriksen as his new comp who is also in his last transfer.

For those of you who have great memory and attention to detail you would know that my brother finished his mission with an Elder Henriksen also!! They're cousins! Idk I feel like that's kinda cool, Elder Henriksen is there to end Elder McLaren’s (Tim) mission and now Elder McLaren (me) is there to end Elder Henriksen's (cousin) mission. Tell me if that makes sense or not.

Anyways, here's the interesting part. Both Elder Lorenzon and I will lose our companions before the end of the transfer, so that means that after the whole mission split, new mission President, and missionaries going home, we will become comps and work Notsé alone together for 3ish weeks.

A lot is changing this month. I'm so excited for it all. I've had seriously an immense gratitude for my Heavenly Father for the experiences and lessons I've had these past two weeks in Notsé. Also how has this 7 week transfer felt so quick? The transfers get quicker and quicker as I get more and more lost in the work. Mawu ni gan!!

Honestly I don't have much more to write to the general audience today but I will be sending tons of direct emails trying to reply to people. If you wish to be one of those people email me I'll hit you up no doubt!

Yesterday was President Henry B. Eyring's birthday!! If y'all know me y'all know he's my absolute favorite apostle to hear from. Mainly because of his many messages on charity.

I've been reflecting on his October 2011 talk “A Witness” that testifies how The Book of Mormon has helped him fulfill his responsibilities as a member in Jesus’ church.

There's too much to share about it but I do heavily exhort you all to listen and see what he said about how we can learn to be more charitable, a greater witness, and endure to the end through The Book of Mormon as a guide!!

Here's a quick little poem I wrote about missionary work. I am always ready to receive criticism or correction in any aspect I wish to improve as an amateur poet.

We Got Work To Do
It’s time to go — out the doors
Sun scorches, sweat pours
We got work to do.

Miles stretch ahead
His strength, not mine
We got work to do.

Words that light the soul
Light upon the path
We got work to do.

They find their joy
I taste it too
Show them the way
Say grow
Because
We got work to do.

This is the way.

Elder McLaren

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

We had an amazing zone conference this past week! Elder Corbitt and President Emily Belle Freeman were there -An Email from Elder Gawthroupe as he has almost completed his amazing mission

Bonjour!

How we doing folks? You've been good? Cool.

We had an amazing zone conference this past week! Elder Corbitt and President Emily Belle Freeman pulled up for the first bit😮 we had a scripture study and then they fielded Q/As. Honestly they were so chill. We performed a special musical number that we wrote🎶

We have some cool friends who could potentially be baptized before I leave. There are some things to work through, but nothing a little revelation can't fix. I've honestly come to love the people here so much. I'm gonna miss them.

Everything's been good here. Tryna finish strong for my last transfer.

please please please please please please please don't forget that God loves you

Google photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VrYfuR8DMnsHP2Px7

Stay blessed,

Elder Gawthroupe

Shared album · Tap to view!

06/01/2026

The Barrie youth had a great day in Orangeville attending the mini mission.

05/29/2026

Please note the start time changed for this Sundays youth mini mission. If your child is not registered yet, its important your email [email protected] asap so we can add them to a group. Thanks

05/27/2026

Another great email from Elder McLaren.

Wayzoloooooo!! How are y'all?? Please email me. I will do my best to respond. I enjoy all emails so keep em coming!!

Anyways I'll try to keep it brief not much happened.

Got to do some service!!! Not many people let us help them with stuff but this one lady did so Elder Williams and I got to help plant her garden a bit. We came back later in the week and she asked us to clear some shrubbery from her field so she gave us each a machete and we just went in and cleared all of that out. She seems a little more interested in hearing our message now so service really is a powerful tool!!

Fun branch activity Saturday night eve though I was dead tired they were playing music so of course me being me I was dancing with all the primary kids. Those kids got moves!!!

They had a bunch of fufu and chicken afterwards so we ate good, I even took some pics wearing Frère Timothé's top hat (photo below)

This Saturday is transfer calls which is crazy to me. This was a 7 week transfer but it has felt like the quickest one yet. Anyways this one is somewhat a big one, it basically decides 100% if I'm staying in Benin or Togo for the rest of my mission. Also next month the Lundeens are going home which is so sad to see I love them!! Mais on verra!!!

Anyways, here's some spiritual food for thought!

I've been tuning myself into more and more conference talks from President D. Todd Christofferson and he is so compelling with his messages. I enjoy all his messages about moral discipline so much. How we must use our agency to be obedient to the will of God. This one talk in particular from 2011's April General Conference “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten” is so good!!

Essentially he shares that must be ready to receive and seek out correction. We must be ready to be chastised basically. Seems harsh but why would we not want to receive correction. He shares the story from Brown and the current bush.

“Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

Are we ready to be cut down? Are we seeking for growth in humility?? Are we seeking correction through obedience??

Do we thank our Heavenly Father for loving us enough to cut us down?

I hope y'all are doing great! Especially my fellow missionaries I love y'all keep up the great work!! Seek personal correction and grow!!!

This is the way.

Elder McLaren