"GUITAR PERMISSION"

"Is there a GUITAR in the ROOM?"

Off to CANADA for 24 months and no GUITAR...WHAT????This will be the first time in my growing up years that I was not able just to reach down pick up my guitar and play. Was I going to be able to cope with not playing? It was explained to me that the reason for Serving a mission was not to pick country songs on the guitar. I accepted that, but I also knew how much I loved playing the guitar.
Well, I landed in Calgary, Alberta Canada in the dead of the winter. My first assignment was to go to Edmonton, Alberta,,,even farther north and even colder. It was right before Christmas and the ward that I was assigned to was having a Christmas party. We had a Mission song that we were able to sing in the areas where we served,,,,so one of the Members just happened to have a GUITAR and so,,,,we worked out the song on the guitar and there I was playing again not long after leaving home.

It was so much fun learning to play all of these Church songs on the guitar. They asked us to do a couple number. I remember I played just background music for my Trainer as he sited the words to: "the man in the glass" It was a great message and the sound of the guitar was a welcomed sound for me,,, and others.





Here in this picture to the right,,,
I played a song on the guitar while playing the Blues Harp at the same time. It was a song that I titled..."Moving Train". It sounded like a train coming in to the station. "IT was awesome" I still remember the applause that I got from the crazy song. The people seemed to love it a lot!!

I Met a very special couple while serving in West Edmonton, Brother and Sister Ray Lonsdale. They would invite us over to their home for Sunday Dinner. He was the Top Salesman for Yamaha in Canada and had years of playing the piano and even the guitar. We got along real well.

We would all stand around the piano after eating a wonderful dinner prepared by Sister Donna Lonsdale and sign all types of Church songs with almost perfect Harmony. I would play along with the guitar and found a new love for Church Music. It was really the first time in my life that I ever played "Sunday go to meeting music on the Guitar" There was a time that Brother Lonsdale transcribed for me a few songs into sheet music on the piano that I wrote while on my Mission in the year of 1981. I will be recording those in the future. I hope I can do justice to the beautiful way that he played it on the piano. I hope to find someone that would be able to come into the Studio to record the songs. That will come later.
One of the things that I found out while serving on my Mission is that the Lord will Provide. I hardly ever went into a persons home that I did not see a Guitar in the Room. I never worried about playing, the opportunity was always there for me to play. "I would just ask a simple question after seeing a guitar in the room,,,,Wow, nice guitar,,,,,who plays?" That is all it took. After a while I actually went into a few members homes and they would have a guitar there and ask me to play a few songs. I would explain why I played the way I did and went through a little history of my conversion to the Church. I was able to have non-members come to special meetings where I would play and sing all types of Songs. It was a Blessing and a great opportunity for me to introduce the Gospel to many people as I was doing what I loved to do,,,Playing the guitar.
I also learned many other valuable lessons while serving the great people in Canada. I was taught to give myself to service, to help others, become interested in others needs and desires. Stop worrying about ME. It taught me how share my talents with others no matter what talent that might be. I Loved My Mission. I Love my Savior Jesus Christ and dedicated the rest of my life to His service in whatever capacity that might come.




The time went fast and I was to return home on the 31st of October 1981. I was wanting to stay, but I was ready to go home to see the one that was waiting for me and supporting me my entire mission.


I was ready for the next stage in my life. To continue my relationship with what I felt was going to be my Wife, and Mother to my children and My Eternal Companion.