Monday, October 28, 2013

October 21, 2013

Hello, eh!

So, this week we spent a lot of time with a member who is from the US, up working here because he makes gun ranges, and the military needs a new gun range. And he has adopted 'Eh' and uses it excessively. It's music to this Canadians ears! But more on that later!

This week was great! Tuesday we headed down to Renfrew, where we meet up with a less-active family and their friends, Tara and Mark, who we are teaching right now! Tara had an awesome experience with Prayer this last week! She had never really prayed before, but we had promised her that if she prayed and asked a question, she would recieve an answer. So we committed her to pray before we came by the next week. So she prayed about for her cat, who was very sick and wasn't really getting better. When we came over this tuesday, She told us about her prayer and how now her cat is doing much much better and how to her, she said "that's basically my answer!" we laughed and agreed wholeheartedly that yes, that was her answer and if she kept praying and asking, she would keep getting answers. We then talked about the Holy Ghost and how we can recognize it when it is in our lives. Brother Donohue, the member gave a fantastic example and explanation of why we as members of the church avoid addictive substances and behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol, smoking, and other, personal things that people are addicted to (For example, chocolate, Watching Lost, or World of Warcraft. =P ). He said, "have you ever tried to do something that required lots of concentration", like writing a test, or something artsy like painting, making jewelery or , or even just reading a book? Then, he said, "have you ever tried to do those after drinking a ton of water and having to pee SO BADLY? because even to this day, I can't do anything when I have to pee. my brain doesn't function, and all I can think about is "Where is the closest bathroom and how can I get there in less than 3.4 seconds". That, Tara, is why it is so hard to feel the spirit sometimes, because there are things in our lives that are like having to pee. And you can't do anything when you have to pee, let alone feel a small, subtle warmth or a nudge to the heart." I thought it was a super great way to explain that! I'm going to use that for the rest of my life!

After that, we decided to sleep over at a member who lives in Renfrew, because it's like an hour away from Pembroke and we had to be back in Renfrew the next day anyways. And our mission president has approved our sleeping in their basement already. So, since we were there Tuesday, and we had to attend district meeting wednesday, which normally we do at the churhc, which is an hour and 15 minutes away, we decided instead to head the opposite direction and we drove to Ottawa to attend in person! It was great,it being the first district meeting since transfers, and we got to meet the new missionaries in our district and zone! So, there is only one NEW new missionary in my zone. It is a sister! Her name is Sister Dick!! Hahaha, if you don't understand why that is so funny, go read Kadens last 3 emails home. =) I went and introduced myself with my companion, because both of our borhters know who she is, having been in the same zone in the MTC, and she saw my name tag and said "OHMYGOSH!" then quickly recovered and said "I know your brother, and your brother too!" it was funny. That was it for that though, we had a long drive to go back home. 

The rest of the week was mostly uneventful except the one time we drove past a less-actives house and they wern't home so we parked the car and made some phone calls. I was wearing my sunglasses because the sun was shining right in our eyes. Then, after a few minutes of making calls, I hear a tap on my window and look over to see a police badge! Woah! Window rolls down... Hello? The man was a member of the military police and was just looking out for his budy who was also a Military police officer, but who was out of town. He just wanted to make sure we weren't scoping out his house or something. =) That was my 2nd official run in with police on my mission. I'm going to try and keep the number at 2. But then we had a crazy fiasco Saturday and Sunday. Kind of. =) 

So, it all started with that announcement that Full time missionaries are supposed to attend adult session of stake conference. So, like I have said before, I live 2 hours away from the stake center and we were trying to catch a ride down with members so we wouldn't destroy our Kilometer limit. So, this one member, Brother Carlson from Texas (He is a contractor who builds gun ranges, this one is for the military and is up for a few months. He has a wife and 4 kids, but they are all back in Texas, he served a mission in Kentucky, so he just comes out and helps us with lessons and drives us around all the time, it's great!) Anyways, he offered to drive us down, and then get a hotel for us to stay in because he can get them for free sometimes from his work. Then we would go to Sunday session. Then head home. We were super pumped, but then he checked for a hotel and they were all booked up from the ones he could get for free. SO we were sad and bummed, but planned on have a sweet dinner with a less active instead of going to the Saturday session, and then we were going to go down Sunday morning with Bro. Carlson. Then, change of plans! Zone leaders call us up, and we have to go down Saturday whether we have a ride or not! So we call Brother Carlson to tell him that we will go Saturday night and stay at our District Leaders apartment, and thanks for the offer to drive us Sunday, but we will have to see him at conference Sunday. Well, Brother Carlson, being the sickly awesome/I-have-no-responsibilities-right-now-because-my-family-and-children-are-thousands-of-miles-away person that he is, offers to drive us down Saturday, then back home after conference Saturday night, and then BACK Sunday  and home again so we could save on Klicks! And it was OK because he has a rental car and his company pays for gas and they have given him the OK for Church things. So, we were like, uh, yeah! We need to save Klicks, and you are a blast to hang with, so we are totally in! So we spent WAY to much time in the car this week, and in total, made 3 trip to and from Ottawa! Saturday night we got back to our apartment around 11:30, in bed at like 11:45. Then up at 6 so we could be in the car by 7 to make it to conference and have good seats. We were dead Sunday night, and went to bed as soon as we finished planning and did everything we needed to be ready. It was a great session of conference though! the members who spoke did great jobs, and focused a whole ton on how members and missionaries can "Come together" as President Monson said in his conference talk! And Sunday, our mission president spoke also. It was just a great weekend!

But that is it for me this week! It is supposed to snow today. Please no! =P

Elder Austen Oviatt!
This is the room we stayed in in Renfrew! Those members are awesome!

On our way home we stopped at the "5 arch stone bridge" Apparently the only one in North America!

It spans the mighty Mississippi river. I have no idea if it's the same as the huge one way down south... 


No comments:

Post a Comment