Thursday, November 28, 2013

November 25

This week was good though, Not a whole tone happened, but we were able to go out to our branch presidents house for supper, the first time I have been there since I showed up! He lives an hour away in a little town called Barrie's Bay. We drove there and Back with Brther  Carlson, the guy who drove us to the temple and to stake confernce twice. =) He has a collegue up from Texas who is helping him with the job he is wrking on who actually got in town yesterday morning. So, Broher Carlson brought him along to supper too. He is 28 and pretty cool. Anyways, we were driving home from our branch presidents house after suppert, and it was -17 out. It was freezing. But I, being from Canada, and being kind of stupid, said "I'll give 5 bucks to whoever holds their hand out the window longest." And Brother Carlson and his friend were both like, OK! SO I had to stick my hand out there too, because like heck I was going to lose 5 bucks! So, long story short, I won, Yeah!! But... 14 hours later, and my hand still hurts from the cold! I obviously gave myself some nerve damage or something. it hurt so bad this morning that I almost couldnt do up my shirt buttons. And it's bright red and swollen. Haha, I'm so dumb... but it was fun. Honestly, that was about it for the week though. Oh, we went to a relief society activity to make an announcement to the sisters that we are going to do living christmas cards this year, and the relief socielty president invited us to sit down and hang out, so now everyone jokes about us being sisters. =) It's funny. I love this branch!

Have a great week! Christmas soon! Woah!

Elder Oviatt

Monday, November 18, 2013

November 18, 2013

Hey!

Alright! Let me tell you about my week!!

Wednesday we had mission conference. Elder Paul B. Peiper came and spoke to us. It was basically awesome. Elder Peiper taught us new ways to try missionary work, helping people learn to answer their own questions through the index and topical guide in the back of the book of mormon, rather than answering it for them. It really was awesome. There were other things talked about too, however the most inspiring/interesting was when he talked about women and the priesthood. He spoke for a long time on it, but one thing he said that I really liked was "the world would have us believe that equality means that two things are completly alike and compete for a special position (like, 4 = 4) but what we should remember about equality is that men and women are inherently different. Like Men alone may sing a song as well as women alone sing it, but they sing it differently and there is nothing about that that we can change. But keeping that in mind, when men AND women sing together, that song becomes better than just mes singing + women singing, but becomes men AND women singing. Kind of a ' the whole is greater than the sum of the parts' idea. Again, much more was shared than that, but that is all I'm going to share with you.
 
Thursday we went and helped chop wood again. it was really funny, the man we were helping said something along the lines of " OK Elders, what did you do for work before your missions? No, wait, let me guess. (He points to me and says) After seeing you work for two days I'd say you were a... Bank Robber. And you (he turns and looks at my companion), you were a babysitter." =) It was realyl funny, expecially coming from a mostly bald red-neck type man with out a whole lot of teeth.
 
Thursday night we were eating supper with the older couple we helped iwth the hardwood floor a few weeks ago, and the wife called me Elder Olivet. Which I actually was kind of touched by, because that is my Gramma's name!
 
We got the flyers for the week, and I was checking to see what food was on sale and what we were going to buy for the week, and I saw that chocolate milk was on sale agin, for like the 4th week in a row! So, I had like 2 litres left Sundaymorning, so before church I made oatmeal for breakfast. With Chocolate milk instaed of water or regular milk. it was... OK... Not the greatest. I found it tasted almost exactly like those moose poop cookies! So if you like that and want to have it in a breakfast cereal form, you now know what to do!
 
Sunday we had a "linger Longer". basically just a pot luck after church where everyone... Lingers Longer! that was delicious. I made those muffins from that recipe you sent mom, the pumpkin chocoalte chip ones! 3 dozen-ish were brought, and only 1 was left after the shenannigan was done, so they must have been good! Then, sunday night we ate at a familys house, the Pilon's (pronouced Pee-Low) house. Wee had spaghetti for supper and we were basically done when a small friendly lovers spat ended with a piece of spaghetti noodle being tossed at sister Pilon. SHe then took a few more noodles and lovingly threw them as hard as she could in her husbands eye. Aaaaannnnddd then all heck broke loose. =) Brother and Sister Pilon just went nuts! Elder Wright and I are looking on in disbelief, but very amused all at the same time. I was debating in my mind wether to get involved because it looked like tons of fun, or just sit on and try and maintain my missionary dignity when that debate came to a "blinding" end when Sister Pilon nailed me in the eye with a handful of noodles. She had good aim! After that it was all out war. They have 6 kids, and a friend was over after church, and then two missionaries. They had made a LOT of spaghetti. And then it was all over the walls, the floor, and each other. It was great. =D
 
Saturday though we had the super awesome experiance of going to the temple to help out with our pbranch baptism trip. Smantha, the recent convert was there too, and she loved it. it was really a great experiance, getting to go into the Montreal temple, which was a 4 hour drive. we were up at 4:30 Am. And Wednesday we wer up at 4:30 am too. We  lost lots of sleep this week. But they were totally worth it. All around, a great week. We are teaching lots, working lots, and having fun lots, and the Lord is blessing us! Transfer calls are this Saturday. Who knows what will happen! But if Elder Wright and I stay in one area, we will be together for 6 months and both of our christmases!
 
I love y'all!

Remember, Rainy days make things grow.
 
Elder Oviatt

Monday, November 11, 2013

October 7, 2013

Hey! Happy General Conference week!  Let me tell you about my week!

Tuesday we went down to Ottawa for our Zone meeting (we never to go Montreal). We had interviews with President Patrick. that was great. It's crazy how fast you can find such a deep love and respect for someone, especially when you see them once every  2 or 3 months! That was fun though. After the Zone meeting, we sat down with Us (Petawawa) And two other teams in the zone who are in small branches, and President and us Counseled together and talked about other ways to do the work up here. We came up with knocking on doors with a clip board in hand, and asking specifically if we can come back later, in appropriate clothing, and give them service. So far we haven't gotten a chance to see if it works, but we got clip boards, and are super excited to see if we can get through to people that way! 

Speaking of service though, we went and helped out a Less-Active family whos friends we are teaching, because they are having a rough time, and their landlord is getting on their back about the property looking shabby. So we went and raked leaves for them. Which would have been fine and dandy, but they live on an acerage. We raked for 6 hours. I was actually worried about my shoulders falling off. Ok, maybe not really, but I was worried about my right shoulder, that I had my surgery on. And sure enough, I was really having troubles with it. I woke up and almost couldn't move it =) But it went away in just a few minutes. ANd it felt good the next day when I woke up. Thankfully.

And Honestly, that was about it for this week. I have no idea how, but this week flew by and somehow, it feels like we did absolutely nothing. It was actually a terrible feeling! Haha, I mean, we did stuff, but... I don't know how to explain it... I'm sure everyone kind of has an idea of what I'm talking about though... 

General Conference was great though! I love conference. Which is weird, because before my mission it was... less desirable... 8] But here I am now, looking forward to it so much! And man, I can't wait to celebrate conference with a plate of ribs... Actually, this session of conference was weird. I couldn't focus, I was trying to take notes and get something out of it, but it wasn't working so well. I liked what I DID hear, but I know I missed a ton. I'm going to devour the Conference Ensign when it arrives! 

Transfer calls are this saturday. Hard to believe, hey? Time is going faster than a greased up pig going down a slip-n-slide coated in butter. Now thats fast! 

I will try and have a more eventful week this week, I'm sorry! =) 

Elder Austen Oviatt


1. This is the Noah's Ark restaurant. It is for a Christian summer camp, but the restaurant is open all year round. Elder Wright and I ARE going to stop next time we pass it.

November 11, 2013

Hey guys,

Ready to hear about my week?

Monday: We went down to Renfrew, where we met with a less active sister who told us that she wanted to come back to church and to take the missionary lessons too. And she wanted her non-member Husband to sit in and learn also. We were super excited. And her Brother is in the Stake Presidency and when he found out about that he sent an email to our branch President telling him how great the branch was doing in implementing the "Hastening the work" program. It was really cool! While we were there we pixied Tara and Mark, the investigators we are teaching in renfrew, dropping off Banana Muffins. That was fun. It's a long drive, and Elder Wright was having a tough time staying awake, but when we got in the car after booking it off their front steps having just rang the doorbell, Elder Wright said "Well, thats ONE way to wake up a little bit!" I'd Say!

Tuesday we went further North than I have been yet in this area! To a little town called Rolphton (I think it is even considered a Ghost town...) to stack wood for a less active lady and her Non-Member Husband. That was fun. Holy toys though, this guys recently bought (don't ask me how though...) a 12000 Dollar wood splitter. It had a winch to pull the logs up a little ramp, where there was a chainsaw mount and a stopper line so you could cut the same size logs every time, where they rolled down to the hydrolic press that pushed it through splitter. A six split-splitter. Which also had a little ramp/chute so the wood just fell right into the truck. We basically did nothing. It was lots of fun. =) 

Wednesday: Ok, nothing super special here. Regular Wednesday. District meeting, over the phone. Pass by's, knocking, we had a D.A. with a less active/part-member family. Then played Euchre so we could have more time to talk to the non-member wife. 

Thursday: We went out to Quebec to teach a member who is preparing to go through the temple for the first time, and so he van be sealed to his wife who passed away a year ago. Then we went BACK to Renfrew to see a family that just moved into the Branch, who's Daughter went to the same YSA ward as me back in E-Town!! Crazy small world, hey?!? 

Friday's are almost all exactly the same. Studies, Lunch, Then off the the retirement home for more Euchre, then home for weekly planning, then supper, then FINISH planning, then a little bit of knocking/passbys untill we head home. 

Saturday just knocked doors and passed by members, less actives and potential investigators untill we went to our Dinner with a family who has a son who brings a friend to church often, and we did an Origami night and Elder Wright and I taught them how to make a few things! The friend was there, and he had a great time. Saturday was also the first real day of snow!! It was actually so nice to finally see. I had missed it. I love snow! But then it all melted on Sunday. Stinking rain!

Sunday we were at church from 7:30 till 2 because we were shoveling the snow and then had meetings galore! I love going to church meetings! You really get a chance to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes, all the care and love that the leaders have for each individual member. It's awesome. 

This next week should be great! we have mission conference, and Elder Paul B. Pieper is coming up to address us! Then we are going to the Temple on Saturday for a baptism trip! =) Lots of early mornings this week!

Have a great Rememberance day!

Alma 46:11-13

11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.

 12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

 13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—

Thank you, all the amazing men and women who fight in the Canadian military, and in other militaries around the world.

Elder Oviatt



1. the coins that we got last week! Super cool!!

2. Took a drive down lovers lane...no lovers though

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

November 4, 2013

Hey!

This week was mostly uneventful. On Tuesday night we drove down to Ottawa for Zone Training meeting, then we had to stay there till Friday, because we didn't have enough Kilometers to make the trip back up to Petawawa. That was fun, but we didn't get a lot of work done in our area. That was ok though, because when we finally made it back, we worked our butts off. And our knees. We helped lay hardwood flooring for an elderly couple we met the very first day I was in Petawawa! It was lots of fun, and they really appreciated the help, and actually they gave both of us Silver coins. Some of those collector coin things! We don't have any pictures right now because we are in the library sending emails, but next week I will send you some! This family also gave us apple pie for desert, and they did something I have never seen before... They put cheddar cheese on it. and said "Apple pie without cheese is like a hug, without a squeeze" And it was flipping delicious!!! You have to try it out next time you make pie, OK? 

Sorry, this email is lame, but I really don't have anything else to say, and Elder wright is ready to go. =) Companions! What would we do without 'em?

=)

Elder Oviatt!