April 14, 2014

Hey! This week was good. Not a whole lot happened! we didn't get to go tour that gun range, so that was too bad. Hahaha! So, we went to a volunteer appreciation dinner at the retirement home that we play cards at, and they had jars full of the dry ingredients for banana bread for all the volunteers, you know? So anyways, at my table, one lady had opened the jar, had poured some out onto a plate and started eating it with a spoon! It was super funny!! it had dried bananas in it, so it could have been a treat, I guess... but, that being said, we made the bread, and it was awesome! We found out that the chevy cruises have falty axles, so we have to take our car in today and see if it needs to be replaced. It's on recall. But, we will get a rental car if it is bad! That makes us excited, because we are burning through our clicks fast, and they are threatening to park us in may if we go over our limit. We could really use a car with no limit right now. But that's it for our week! 

Elder Oviatt

April 28, 2014

Hey! This week was great! Went and picked up Elder Mataoa, stayed in Ottawa for way to long, and then had a zone meeting. It was decent. Not the best one I've been to, unfortunately. =) Hey, not everything can be better than the last one! Elder Mataoa is hilarious! So far, the members all love him, were going to do some awesome work up here in Petawawa! Today at 3:30 we get to go tour a gun range that a member is about to finish building for the Canadian Special Forces! I'm Excited!! Conference was awesome, I loved Priesthood session!

1. This is Elder Russell. This was at zone meeting, we got a little bored, so we put our tags on him. He's 5 times the missionary I'll ever be! ;)

March 24, 2014

J1. This is Elder Beaumont, and my self and Elder Beaumonts greenie, Elder Soll. This is a three generational picture, taken at Montreal on the day we went to see Elder Neil L Anderson. Cool Day.

2. This is at our Dinner on my birhtday. They set up green decorations! And she made me a pie. Awesomeness.

3. This is a cake that was bought for me for our FHE group. They put the candles right after my name because they actually spelt it wrong. =) 

4. We had ANOTHER birthday party/dinner this week. They bought me a batman birthday cake, and appologized because batman was the closest thing they could get to superman. 

March 17, 2014 (Happy Birthday Austen!)

Hey All! 

This week was crazy! I don't have a whole lot to tell about, but I do have some awesome pictures.

1. This is Calebs Baptism. That was so awesome. That was Saturday. We drove down and I got to baptize him. Then, Sunday we were back down to Ottawa and I was able to confirm him. Next Sunday he is recieving the priesthood, then he wants to go to the temple with us. Crazyness. His parents were at his baptism. I don't know if you all know how big of a deal that is, but it's a huge deal. So we spent most of our week in Ottawa. Not very productive...

2. This is my 21st Birthday Cake. It was bought for me by Sister Cooke. Who also has a birthday today! She came to church with a cake for me. What a sweet lady, I hope to get a card down to her this week, because she lives 45 minutes away. 

3. This is my 12th birthday cake. Everyone wishes they were young again, right? Well, today, I am young again!

March 10, 2014

Hey!! Another week gone. Impossible, but I guess not! 

This week was good! We didn't do to much out of the ordinary, but we had tons of fun anyways! 

We have an investigator, Jennifer, who is so awesome! She has a baptismal date for March 29th, and she is doing so well! We mentioned tithing quickly in a lesson a while ago, and she asked about it, so we did a brief outline of it, explained what it was and all that, and then we moved on. Well, a day or so later, Jennifer texts us and says that she has looked at her finances and will be able to pay titihing and is so excited to be able to join our faith community. It was awesome. Basically floored us, that's certain! And we had another person, Edward, I've talked about him before, text us and tell us that him and his friends who are posted to Petawawa, want to visit all the churches in the area before they leave. So we told him good luck, we hope you find a church. He then texted us back and said "Oh, I've already found a church. Your church. We're just looking for one for my friend now!" We were floored by that text as well!

Lets see... What else... Oh! Saturday night we went way up to Deep River, about 45ish minutes away from Pembroke to visit with a family who has an inactive daughter and a daughter who is engaged to someone who is not a mormon, and we were going to have a game night to get to know her Fiance. We played Clue. I'll be honest. That game is kind of boring. But Elder Losee ended it really quickly, it was great. He made an educated, but lucky guess and won after about 10 minutes. Then we played Quelf. That game is hilarious. There were some great pictures taken. I'll get those sent out next week, because I don't have them myself. I Lost, but I'm pretty sure I had the most fun. =)

This next week should be an amazing week. Caleb is getting baptized on Saturday. at 7:00PM. He may have his friend from Las Vegas baptize him, but that's not even the coolest part. His parents will be coming. That is like, blow your mind awesome. His parents have come a long way since they first learned he went to a Latter-Day Saint church. I'm excited to meet them. So, we will be in Ottawa Wednesday, then halfway to Ottawa Thursday to un-split, then Saturdayfor Calebs Baptism, then Sunday again for Calebs Confirmation and Stake General Priesthood meeting. Lots of driving. Then, the next week, we are going down to Montreal for our big meeting with the general authority, and a temple trip. I'm excited! Anyways, that is is for us. Elder Losee and I are headed out for another adventure filled week!

Love yous!

Elder Oviatt

March 3, 2014

Hey there! 

So, crazy week! we got in a car accident! Woo!! Actually, embarrassing story. we were backing out of our driveway, and it was icy, and slushy and gross. And our land lady was driving INTO the driveway, and in ONtario, they don't like, collect the snow like they do in Alberta (or at least like they do in Sherwood Park.) So every house has this HUGE pile of snow where they toss the snow from their driveways and where the snow from the road is plowed onto the yard. SO anyways, this pile of snow blocked me from seeing her, and blocked her from seeing me. And I have to hit the gas to got moving because of the ice in the driveway, and she saw me coming out, so she slammed on the gas to get passed me, but all the slush on the road caused her traction control to come on, so she actually ended up slowing down, and then bang. A tiny little crash. Nothing serious, but their car definitely got the worst of thedamage. Sorry guys! We got to do some service on Tuesdayat the Old Folks home where we play cards on Friday, and we were waiters during their big annual "Star light dinner" Where they just go all out and super fancy to make the people feel special. And man, that was a blast from the past. carrying in trays of food, and carrying back dishes. Pouring drinks, the whole shebang. It was awesome. Then, we had a cook-off for the young men young women at church, kind of an iron chef night. It was tons of fun! The girls won, but dang, the young men made some delicious tasting chicken! Caleb is getting baptized March 15th. He asked me if I could do the baptism and the Confirmation the Sunday after. I was touched. Caleb is doing so awesome, down in Ottawa, he is working as a door to door bell salesman guy, and we keep on telling him that it is "Good Practice" He hates it, but laughs, because he totally knows it's true. 

That's about it for this week!

Elder Oviatt

February 17, 2014

Hey!!

"Elder Oviatt, are you ready for your transfer call? You're going to..... STAY IN PETAWAWA!!!" 

Another call came and went and Elder Oviatt stands strong in Petawawa. This is now my longest area, having been here for 5 transfers starting Wednesday! So excited. I love this place! 

So, a few weeks ago, Elder Losee and myself went to the dog park with Caleb, and I lost my name tag. Super sad. I have like 10 though, so no big deal. But anyways, Caleb sends us a picture text this week of him holding my name tag. Someone had found it in the dog park, picked it up, and clamped it to the bleachers!! So cool! I love stories of boomerang tags! This week we have been all over the place. Ottawa, 2 hours away from Pembroke. Renfrew, 45 minutes away from Pembroke, heading south. Deep River, 45 minutes away from Pembroke heading north. Renfrew again. Our mission cars have a life of 80 000 kilometers. After that the church sells them because maintanance and up keep become too expensive to viably handle. I got the car we have right now at 37 Kilometers. It's now at 14 500 kilometers. If I stay in Petawawa my whole mission, I could possibly take the car to 25 000 kilometers, meaning, I will have personally driven that car about 1/3rd of its life. That is crazy. We drive way to much.

Caleb is moved off to Ottawa. He has been picked up by the sister missionaries in the YSA ward. He loves it, and is enjoying being taught by sisters. Haha. Boys. He actually came with us this week to teach a lesson to an investigator. He did awesome, he bore his testimony and explained how he is feeling about the Book of Mormon and how he recieved his answer, and how he feels so good about the church. We're going to make a missionary out of him yet! 8] He reads my emails. He is a little in denial about a mission right now, but that will change after he meets so many great missionaries down in Ottawa. 

We are headed down to Renfrew tonight actually. Today all the stores are closed because of Family Day. We will have to do our shopping tomorrow or somethign. =) Or we will starve to death. Two options. =) We have lots of dinner apointmements this week actually. Actually, we have something every day! Woah! Didn;'t even realize that until just now. Anyways.

February 10

Hey everyone!

So, this week... This week was pretty good! Not a ton happened. We had splits, and Elder Messenger and I tore it up here in Petawawa! We had Zone Conference, so the mission president was up, and we got to talk to him a bit. The stake President was there too, and he had some great stuff to say. We had planning on Friday again, but I was totally clothed this time. Elder Losee understood what would happen if we weren't focused, and he wasn't willing to risk it again. 8]Sunday was great though. We had lots of investigators at church! Bonnie was there, Jennifer was there! That was so cool! She is awesome! She has started reading the book of Mormon, came to church and loved it, asked questions, participated, sang, like, just golden! Saturday we had breakfast with Caleb at a place called Janna's (Caleb is the name of the person that had asked me not to use his name. He told me last week that I should just use his name, because it was ridiculous that I was calling him Voldemort and Dumbledore and Gandalf. He is cool.) He may be moving down to Ottawa, which is great for him. Definitely his best option. Sad for us, be we will definitely still see him. We are down in Ottawa often enough. =) Anyways, that is about it for this week! Have a great one, Next Monday I will be telling you what happened during transfer calls! Saturday we get calls again! CRAZY!

Elder Oviatt

1. So this is a chain, carved out of wood! Each link is individually carved, and it's super awesome! probably took hours and hours and hours

"The fierce predator is on the prowl for it's next meal."

This is a leopard baby. Awesome. And apparently hypo-allergenic. And like $1500!

February 3, 2014

Hey! SO COOL!! So, every Monday, we open up our emails and we have the mission newsletter. This week we open it up and what does it say?:

"Dear Elders and Sisters, 

We are pleased to announce that we will have an all-Mission meeting in 

Montreal at 10:00 am on March 22, 2014. One of the Quorum of the 

Twelve will preside. 

More details will follow."

WHAT?!?! YES!!! WE GET TO MEET AN APOSTLE!! Needless to say, my birthday week is going to flipping rock! Anyways...

THis week was good! We didn't do a whole ton. Wednesday we had District meeting, and Elder Pehrson and I did splits. Elder Pehrson started at the same time as myself, he is the Zone leader here for us now. We actually got to do splits a long time ago, back when I was in Alma and we were both in Quebec city for zone meeting. It was a great split back a year ago, and this split was great also! we taught our awesome friend, tried to crash a latino gathering in Pembroke (it was already over though, so no spanish parties for us... =[ ), we ate, we talked, we sang, we laughed, we cried... OK, maybe not cried... We then Un-Split on Thursday and had a great day with Elder Losee! Friday was a great day! We Went to the hospital to meet the Aunt of one of our memebers, who is not a member, and we had a lesson with her, and gave her a book of mormon, then we played Rummy-O, because she was bored to death in the hospital. It was great, she was supposed to come to church SUnday too, but the Doctors had an appointment with her, so she couldn't leave the hospital. Then, We went back and visisted her on Sunday, because our D.A. got cancelled, so we talked with her, and we talked with one of the other womne who was in the hosptal with her, and she asked us which church we were from, and then told us that she had moved to pembroke about 5 years ago (From a town 45 minutes away... not that big of a change), and hadn't decided on a church to go to since then. And the she told us that she would love to meet up with us and talk about Jesus and our church! So, we were like... YES! And then she told us that she lived on Everett street. And then we were like... Uh... WE LIVE ON EVERETT STREET! So, we have a new investigator! She is one of our neighbors! And then, Today, our member went to pick her Aunt up and this woman, Jennifer asked if she could have Bonnie's book of mormon, so they gave it to her and they (the member and Jennifer) exchanged phone numbers and addresses and stuff! It was super cool! We will teacher her as soon as she is out of the hospital! So back to Friday. We then had a bomb lesson with one of our less active members, Cassidy, who wants to come to church, but broke her foot, so she is working on that one, the lesson went so well! Spirit was there, Members were there, all in all, it rocked. Saturday we did our weekly planning. So, Elder Losee is a very visual person. He is very stimulated by colors and patterns and lights and flashy things. And that makes planning very very hard. He is all over the place. We have yet to have a good weekly plan. Until Saturday. So, I realized Elder Losee's visual learning style, so I was trying to think of how I could get him to only look at his planner. I wasn't coming up with any ideas, because everything I could think of was like, build a room, paint it white, put nothing in it, plan in there. Or things like "Blind him" But I don't think my mission president would have appreciate that. Or him... Or his parents... Or anyone. So that option was completly out. But then I remembered! Elder Losee has a huge aversion to seeing me naked (Which is a good thing. If it were any other way, I would be a little bit worried...), and I have a huge love for not wearing clothing, so I decided to plan. Naked. Honestly, that was the best planning session I have EVER had, not just with Elder Losee, but with any of my companions! He didn't take his eyes off his planner ONCE! We were completly done in 2 hours! Most missionaries it takes 3 hours to do, and with Elder Losee it was taking us about 5 hours, broken up over 2 days. And then Boom. Streamlined. I should be a business man or something. Work on Efficency-ing up peoples businesses! Right?! Anyways, We have a zone conference this week, Thursday. That sjhould be great! And then we have splits, and then it will be next week, and next week we get our transfer calls. Insane. Anyways, I shall talk to you later, have a great week!

Elder 'Naked' Oviatt!

January 27, 2013

Gooooood Morning!! 

Actually, you know what, that is a lie. It's 2 PM right now. It isn't morning at all. Let's try this again!

Gooooood Afternoon!!

Much Better!

This week was a great week! Elder Losee and myself were down in Ottawa on Wednesday, and then we did splits with the Fallowfield Elders! Elder Freeze and Elder Messinger. Actually, funny story, Elder Freeze is from Southern Alberta, then moved to Ottawa when he was younger, and lived there for like 6 years, then he moved back to Alberta, and then he got called to serve in the Montreal mission, which includes Ottawa! Not only that, but he lived in the FALLOWFIELD WARD!!! He is serving in his old ward! How crazy is that?! Pretty crazy, believe you me! Anyways, Elder Freeze came up to Petawawa with me, and Elder Losee stayed down in Fallowfield with Elder Messinger. They had a blast, we had a blast, all in all, it was a huge blast! I have decided though that I don't like doing splits up here in Petawawa. We have a two hour drive to Ottawa, which we would do whether we had splits of not, so that's not a big deal. Then, We have district meeting, which is always tons of fun. Then we have a tow hour drive back. Which is the sucky part. Because by the time you are done lunch, it's like 1:30, 2ish, and then you have a 2 hour drive home, so that makes it 4o'clock ish when you are back, and then you only have 4 hours to work together before you have to have supper and be home for planning. Splits is great because you learn new ways to do work, and you learn now things about the work, but if you aren't doing much work, you don't get to learn a whole lot about new ways to do work, do ya now? Sure, you have tons of time to talk with your companion and to get to know him and about him, but that should only be part of the split, not the whole thing. Anyways, that was my rant. THanks for listening. Sad moment. We found out that some of our friends who were pregnant lost their baby. =( Not good.... We went and ate on base, at the military food court saturday, that was super cool! Super cheep!! Haha, we got in trouble there though. We have a member who is a cashier at the foodcourt, and so she invited us to eat there. We were the last ones in line, but apaprently we got in line AFTER 1:00 and the line was supposed to close at 1. So we got yelled at by the kitchen staff, and then they yelled at our member, and then the three of us laughed about it because, honestly, there isn't a whole lot they can do about it. we were sorry that they were mad, but it was kind of funny too. We had lunch this week at our friends house! The one who's name I'm not supposed to say! The one who I called Voldemort before! So, I was thinking about that actually, and our friend it totally the opposite of Voldemort! So, I thought to myself, who is Voldemort's Character foil? And I came up with Dumbledore. Or Gandalf. I know, I know, it's a different story, it can't really be Voldemort's foil, but they are both old, white haired men, so basically the same, right? Anyways, Gan-dore fed us fajitas. they were delicious. And Elder Losee went and jumped on his trampoline, which really didn't work, because there was like 2 feet of snow on it. Dum-alf got a video on his phone, but it was only 8 seconds long because he takes way to many pictures and videos and has no more space on his phone. =) Anyways, that's about it for me! Have a great week, I don't have any pictures again for two reasons. 1, I left my bag with my camera at a members house. Ooops, 2. I haven't taken any more pictures still... =)

Elder Oviatt

Janury 13, 2014

Hello Hello!

So, it has been beautiful up here! Nice warm temperatures, rain, it's been like 2 or 3 degrees up here since we left Ottawa! Which is super nice because... I let my winter coat in Ottawa. =) It's in the apartment that we stayed in while we were down there. I've stuck to wearing a sweater and it has been great! So glad I haven't frozen to death up here. So yes, our week was really long. Not a whole lot of stuff got done, but that is OK! We had our friend at church again on Sunday, and another guy who is 19-22ish at church also. He is actually from St. Albert, but got posted here to the military base. His name is Edward. He is super cool, he told us that he has attended many different churches, and is looking for one that he feels good in. Unfortunately, we had kind of a rough day a church. The things we talked about were great things, but for someone's first time at church, It was probably a little much. Luckily for us, our friend, Not Edward, but maybe I'll call him 'He Who Shall Not Be Named'. OK. So, Voldemort asked us after church if he could have Edwards number so he could go out to lunch or something with him and talk about the church. Uh...  Sounds good to us! So we asked Edward if it was ok if we shared his cell number, and he said yes. Hopefully Voldemort is able to work some magic and help dispel any fears or doubts. If anyone could do it, it's him! 

Uh, OK, so, Elder Losee! His name is Adam Losee. he is from Las Vegas. He is the oldest, and only boy, in a family of 6 kids. He is super awesome, and teaches with a spiritual power that is awesome. But like the literal, almost archaic, meaning. He puts you in awe. It's a great asset to have as a missionary! He is 6' 3" and towers over me. It's going to be a great transfer, that's for sure! Here is a picture of the two of us!

Elder Oviatt

January 6, 2014

Hey! Happy New Years!

This week was New Years Eve! It was... Well, quiet and nice! We had a little "party" thing at the church and there wer some members who had some friends there. We played Rummy-O and ate some DELICIOUS food (P.S. I've eaten way more delicious food in the last few months than normal, and as such, I weigh like, a ton. I've never been this "heavy" in my life. 8] It's redonculous) Anyways, that was Tuesday. Wednesday we went to Ottawa for District meeting. Tursday we ate supper with a member in our branch and our new friend (He asked me not to use his name, because these emails go on the blog). Friday we played cards with our old friends Ernie and Enid. Haha, I missed them! Last week, we don't know what happened, but Enid was a little off her rocker, and totally kept hitting on me. "How old are you?" "20" "Ooh! You're such a good looking Man!" Or, "OK Cutie, It's your lead" Haha, It was awesome, Elder Wright and I were laughing like the whole time. Anyways. Saturday was Transfer calls!! Elder Wright is leaving me. He is headed out to LaSalle, on the Island of Montreal. I'm receiving Elder Losee. I don't know anything about him, like, at all! So this is going to be a fun week! Saturday, we also were able to see our friend again, and talk to him about fasting. He fasted with us and some of his friends in the states on Sunday. It was really cool. He is doing so well. =) 

I'm excited to have some pictures of Myself and Elder Losee next week. 

We're down in Ottawa Tuesday afternoon, and then back Thursday night. It's going to be a long few days!

Elder Oviatt!

December 30, 2013

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your Christmases were as awesome as mine was!

Christmas Eve we went to the Lavoies house. They had Finger foods, and it was delicious. Very Different from the usual Fondue. Delicious none the less! They had some friends they had invited over who weren't sure if they were going to make it because they had presents left to wrap, so Elder Wright and myself, with Brother Lavoie went and helped him wrap presents. I wasn't good at it, I haven't wrapped a present in like... Well, since way before I left on my mission! =) It was fun though. They had the Santa Tracker up and were were watching where Santa was with the Kids. Christmas day we woke up, did our studies, then went to the Pilons house where we had chocolate, played cards games and Pictionary and had general all around fun! We then went to The Waitos house, and had supper. THey are not members, but wanted us to go to their house for Christmas so we would have a good Christmas dinner. It was a very good Christmas dinner. =)  It was great to see The family and talk to them. It was also fun to see Elder Wright's family for the second time. We were able to share the 40 days and 40 nights challenge with The Lavoies this week, and explain to them how it affected our friend we are meeting with. They were very excited to be able to try it out and give their scripture reading a new life. If any of y'all are feeling a little bit complacent in your scripture reading, definitely give that website a look!

Have a great week, and I will talk to you next year!

Happy New Years!

Elder Oviatt

December 22, 2013

HEY! So... I'm a terrible person. I don't have a single picture of the Christmas party. I know I said I would have some... My bad...

But, on a WAY 'cool'er note, Monday night last week Elder Wright and myself helped a member move some stuff from his U-Haul into a storage room he rented because he has to be out of his house in Oshawa soon, and he isn't into his house up here in Pembroke till January 4th. Anyways, we were out for like 2 hours loading and such, and it was like - 25 out. It was FLIPPING FREEZING. It was terrible, but we loved it. I lost one of my name tags, and I won't find it again till we move him out. In January. I'm crossing my fingers that we don't all freeze to death in the storage room and then they find us a few months later, frozen solid, then sell us to a museum. Actually, on second thought, if I had to die, that would be a cool way to do it. OK, Nevermind, I'll be OK no matter what happens during that move. 

So, Tuesday was... Eventful. But I'll save it to the end, because it was also the coolest day. Well, honestly, Tuesday has made every day this week just like, unbelievably awesome. Yeah for Tuesday!

Wednesday. Splits! We were in Fallowfield, blitzing the area because we were goin to be sticking around Thursday too, and that was lots of fun. We brought our cards with us. Munchkin. Anyone ever played Munchkin games? They are pretty awesome! But they are hard to play 2 player. Elder Wright and I do it from time to time, but it was nice to be able to play a 4 player game of it. So that was fun. 

Thursday. Christams Party! Woot! Actually, Don't want to be a party pooper or anything, but it wasn't that fun... We went out caroling. For like 30 minutes. And then we had hot chocolate and cookies and talked for a long time. Then we watched a 'Bible video' on the Birth of Christ. The End. I mean, it was OK. But... It's Christmas! Mediocrity during Christmas is lame! No, sorry, That's not very nice. It was a great party, and especially being out in Petawawa, it's nice to see other missionaries. We really enjoyed it! 

Friday.. Friday was just regular. Really not that special.

Saturday... We had a lesson in the mornign with a less active sister and it went SUPER well! =) Yeah for people wanting to come back to church! Then we had supper with a less active brother and his wife! That was delicious. She is a great cook. then we went caroling on Base with a family.

Sunday. Church was only 1 hour long due to the ridiculous amouts of snow we recieved. THere were like 30 people at church. 

But back to Tuesday!  Tuesday was terrible. I tore my pants. Bad. Goodbye Brown pants... Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Yeah, I didn't tear it down the seam like I thought, but I tore the fabric down both sides of the seam. SO I was pretty mad, and Elder Wright and I weere on our way into a restaurant because a Member was going to feed us before eh came with us to a lesson, so I'm sitting in this chinese buffet just furious, waiting for our member to show, and Elder Wright gets the phone out, gives it a funny look and answers it. I'm not paying attention at all to what is going on with him, and he hangs up the phone and says "So... That was Bobby." I'm thinking "Who the heck is Bobby? I don't know any Bobbys!" Elder Wright then tells me that Bobby is from Nevada. Bobby Has a friend up in Pembroke who has been reading the book of mormon. Bobby's friend has prayed about the book of mormon and know's it's true. Bobbys friend wants to be baptised. I was just dumbfounded. It was a great feeling! =) We have since been in contact with Bobby's Friend. He is mega legit. We have taught him once, and basically we taught him nothing. His friends have been doing all the teaching. And it's awesome! We can't wait to see how this will all pan out!

But! This week is Christmas. In. Sane. Seriously. I can't believe it. Time is going so fast. But Wednesday we will be on Skype. I'm excited to see some of the Family! 

Merry Christmas!

Elder Oviatt

December 16, 2013

Hey Everyone!

This week has been a pretty good one. Cold albeit, but good. We went down to Ottawa again on Wednesday for district meeting, that was enjoyable! We did splits and I was in Ottawa with Elder Umana. We went around in the car and I was navigating because those elders don't have a GPS, so I was on Map duty. It went OK, I mean, I don't know Ottawa at all, and Elder Umana did, so he kept on saying, I don't think this is the best way to get to where we need to go. I just kept on telling him that if he knew where he was going, he could take us there and I would take a nap. =) Elder Umana is a funny guy. We went to stop by an inactive member and they live in like this weird apartment complex thing. So he pulled into a parking stall because we wern't expecting to be very long, and well, a car came up 3 seconds later and wanted to get into their stall... Bad choice Elder Umana! And then, he was like, Oh, I'll just park in this stall right here! I convinced him to just park on the road with his hazards on, which he did. And that turned out to be a good idea, because a car came like 45 seconds later and pulled into the stall that he was going to park in the second time. Good Stall picking Elder Umana! Anyways, we finished splits and went home. We have a limit as to how much driving we can do each month. And last month our limit was 2400 kilometers. This month our limit is also 2400 kilometers, but I have to be down in Ottawa almost every week. So as of right now we have used almost 1700 kilometers. We are WAY more than halfway done our kilometer limit and just passed the walkway through the month mark... uh oh! 

So this week Elder Wright and I have passed by a few less active members of the branch up here, to wish them a merry Christmas and such in case we don't see them before Christmas, and they all gave us cookies and chocolates. me and my companion have like 40 cookies and two boxes of chocolates to eat, and I'm sure we are going to get more. I don't want more! I feel like all I've eaten for the last few days has been cookies and chocolate. Haha, part of the problem too is that we try and pass by a whole bunch of people before Supper or something, and we get delayed, so it's 7:30 PM and we haven't eaten since 11 AM and in the car is a plate pilled high with cookies. 10 minutes later, there ain't no cookies left. I know, I know... We're disgusting. =) We were actually debating not buying any grocereis this week and surviving on the leftovers in the fridge and all the cookies we got. Which, Honestly, we could easily do. We have tons of food in our apartment. It's great. 

This week we are going back down to Ottawa for district meeting and we are going to be doing splits with the Elders in the Fallowfield ward, but we are going to 'Blitz' the area. Elder Wright and myself will both stay down in Fallowfield instead of one of us going back to our area with one of the other missionaries. The reason we are doing this is because our Zone is having a Christmas party Thursday evening. It should be tons of fun! We will be getting all our mail and packages then too. I'm Excited!

But, I'll talk to you all next week, and I should have some pictures of the christmas party! 

Elder Oviatt

December 9, 2013

Hey! 

Wanna hear about our crazy week?

OK, so our week really wasn't that crazy, but it did start out crazy! Monday for Lunch Elder Wright and I had some leftover lasagna. Mmm... Lasagna, right? WRONG! Well, no, actually, right... It was delicious! But then, suppertime rolls around and I felt... Meh, so instead of eating a big supper I had some cream of wheat. Right before bed, I got up, brushed my teeth and then had two little throw-ups, but then I felt great, so I brushed my teeth again, obviously, and I went to bed. At 11:30, I woke up. Threw my blankets off of me, walked to my dresser (which is about 1 foot away from me, not much of a walk.) I tossed on my pajama pants, took 3 steps outside of our bedroom door (Notice I didn't put on my flip-flops. That is how you know this is serious. I don't go anywhere without my flip-flops on) and I knew I wasn't going to make it up a flight of stairs, around the kitchen in the dark, over the christmas tree chords and into the bathroom in time, so I stopped right there and about 1/8th of a second later projectile vomited in the hallway in the dark. Now, luckily (or unluckily, your choice) I had the mind to bring my shirt up and cover my mouth so that bile didn't go EVERYWHERE. But then my shirt was soaking wet, dripping with the leftovers from our leftovers. I coughed, felt terrible, then proceeded to vomit 4 or 5 more times, always into my shirt so as to minimize clean up after. Well, I ran upstairs, my shirt actually doing an amazing job at holding the liquid, none of it dripping as I walked up 13 stairs and around our kitchen, over the chirstmas tree chords and into the bathroom. Bravo little shirt, bravo. I showered, cleaned up the hallway, tossed my clothes in the laundry, and the rags I used to clean the hallway in the wash too. I then proceeded to toss and turn, attempting to "sleep". It didn't work so well. I was upstairs the rest of the night. First on the floor, then on the chair, then on the floor with my feet on the chair, then on a different chair, then to a third chair, back to the floor, the first chair, and finally the 2nd chair did it for me. I got some "sleep". I felt terrible when I woke up still though, so did Elder wright, He having woken up a few times with some mad diarrhea. it was just a rough start for the two of us. We spent most of the next day in the apartment. We had 2 lessons set up so we went to those, but other than that, we stayed in and recovered. We didn't feel better until Wednesday morning, when we drove to Ottawa for District Meeting. We did splits with the Elders in the Fallowfield ward, Elder Foster and Elder Messinger. Elder Foster and myself returned to Petawawa and taught Mark and Tara about marriage and we were planning on talking to them about how they need to either be married before they get baptised, or move out. But before we had even started to teach them the lesson, Tara looks over at me and says "See Mark, that's the kind of suit you need to get for our wedding!" Elder Foster and I kind of just looked at each other and were like... Uh... What? Cool!! So yeah, they are already talking about marriage and want to even go and get sealed!! Sounds like a good goal to me! I hope I am around when their wedding happens, but they said that they would try and make it out to Edmonton when I get married. Who knows when that is going to be though! Probably in 30 or 40 years. ;) 

Saturday was our branch Christmas party. It was awesome. We were at the church from 11AM till 9PM. Looong day. We did a white elephant gift exchange. Elder Wright and I went all out with our present. We bought clear glass ornamental balls, and we took pictures of ourselves and put them in the ornaments. Now a family has 6 Elder Wright and Elder Oviatt Christmas ornaments. I took pictures of them because they are so boss. So. Boss. =) One is missing, I'll see if I can go and grab a picture of it for next week.

Have a great week!!

December 2, 2013

Hey everyone! 

This week was mostly uneventful. We ate supper with a family for the first time since I've been here. That was fun! 

We have a member who moved into the branch up here who actually is opening up an A&W. it opened this week, and he is super busy! But we are excited for things to slow down a little bit and to stop by and grab a burger or two. He is super legit, has a wife and two little kids. Honestly though, that is about it for our week... We did other missionary things, and lots of boring for you to read about missionary stuff too. But this week should be good! We have splits on Wednesday and then our branch Christmas party Saturday.  Oh, wait. Snow. We got TONS of it! I love the snow so much. We have only had one day of really cold, but it started snowing Saturday night and just hasn't really stopped. So pretty. Goo thing we got our winter tires on our car on Thursday!

Elder Oviatt!!



This is some sweet ice cream that we had at our branch president's house! Go Canada, eh?

 So... somehow I split my dress shirt sleeve down the crease. Now, if you think that is impressive, you should know that that is sleeve split number 3. Yup, the third time I've done it. the shirts are dead though. So it's ok. I threw them out. And I've still got enough to get me through my mission.

3. Elder Wright and I went down to sleep at our Zone leaders Tuesday night for district meeting on Wednesday, and there was another team sleeping there too, and so we were very crowded. So crowded that Elder Wright had to sleep under the desk. Well, he didn't have to, but he chose to. Silly guy.

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

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

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.