A Christmas Pageant To Remember!

Monday:

We've had so much snow and so many storms, we stopped keeping track.  My journal mentions a crazy storm though, I kind of remember something....

Tuesday:

Um, well, normally we drive into the city today that way we have time to be there for the meeting, but our Zone Leaders wouldn't let us.... :/  So we had to plan our day on the fly.... :P  Um, we did a lot of work and I got to sign with the deaf lady at the Library.  Anyway, we signed for 5-10 minutes!!  And I never used paper the whole time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :D

Wednesday:

Um... we had transfers.  Elder Miyasaki is awesome!!!!!! He's half Asian, we both love to cook and play guitar!!  We have pretty common interests and he's teaching a lot about how to become a better missionary!  Poor guy is from Hawaii..... but he's going home pretty soon anyway, haha.  He's gonna teach me how to make good Asian food (Japanese curry, fried rice, etc.) and I'm gonna show him some Italian/other dishes!!!

Oh, btw, he has a musabi press!!!  And he said I'm the only elder that has known what it is/what its for!!

Thursday:

We did service the entire day! The weather report was wrong (it was supposed to be a high of -22)  it was only -17!!!!!!!  :l  We also enjoyed a low of -27 to -28 (which with wind chill made it -35 to -40!!!!!!)  It was so cold my eye lashes froze together!!!!

BTW, this is the balaclava Grandma Bear knitted for me, and Grandpa Bear’s old wooly-pully sweater.

Friday:

I made my stuffing (which was half decent) and roasted vegetables!!!  Our Christmas program was straight out of the Best Christmas Pageant EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  lol, we had a very crazy nativity complete with an angel stealing the wiseman's gold, Joseph giving the baby Jesus Shakin' Baby Syndrome, and me trying to get the Angel's cue correctly.... lol  it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Among all the Craziness.  I realized something.  You've always taught me that Christmas isn't about gifts, trees, food, and wrapping.  But I've always been blessed to enjoy this season with family.  As I sat in the chapel singing Silent Night with my Branch, I felt the Spirit of Christ touch my heart and remind me what the whole thing is really about.  That Christ came, and we're saved...  Which everything else reminds, and amplifies!

Saturday:

Spent the whole day doing service.  I got to crawl through a manhole and work in a cistern!!!!  It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!  I also dislocated my knee later that day.... not so much fun....

Sunday:

Had a fun day at church.  Taught a new investigator, she's interested and coming to church on Sunday!  Her two Italian mastiffs didn't eat us.  And I was reminded, suits can be dry cleaned, souls can't.  We also got to watch the last half of the Christmas Devotional and I made homemade pizza!!!!!!!  I turned out really well.  Deer sausage makes a great topping!!!  (BTW early this week, I made Biscuits and Gravy, with Deer/pork ginger and sage sausage.... it was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Laboring With Love and the Spirit!

Monday:

We went to clear off this older women's driveway and were very successful.  About half way through though, we reached a patch of ice that wasn't breaking very easily (we'd hit patches before, but this was the rest of the driveway)..... afraid that this would stop us (we promised to only do the "easy" stuff)  I felt prompted to utilize the priesthood.... the ice didn't stand a chance.  As I used the Ice cracker (long pole with a flat metal blade to chisel through the ice) with such force every stroke brought massive amounts of sparks, it was breaking off in huge chunks and the driveway was cleared.  Although, half way through the "nasty ice"  I got another prompting that we should go in and eat before it got too late.  We followed it and were blessed with even more opportunities to serve and share the gospel because of it! We were able to go back the next day, finish it, talk to some people while we worked on it, and take up some time between activities!

Oh, I found a small Paul Revere pot!!!  The poor thing has been left and repeated abused in an elementary/middle school.... I cleaned it up as best I could and polished the solid copper bottom...  =D

Tuesday:

We helped hand out flyers for the Filipino Tsunami Bottle Drive!  We (the missionaries, who are used to knocking doors, lol) handed out ~120 flyers in about an hour?  it was awesome!!  Then we helped out the a family in the branch.  Elder Anderson saved the day with his awesome plumbing skills!!!  (We fixed a leaky well spout)  and then (a couple days earlier we followed a prompting to go tract in a neighborhood, where we got a referral and a potential service project!!)  we followed up on that referral (had a good chat, and we might also be able to help them!)  and they gave us another referral!!!  Which we contacted, (her brother, who's building his house and could use an extra hand!)  and we're excited to go out and help there!!!  Then, after a long day, we had a supper appointment at a branch member’s with one of their neighbors.  We (the elders) weren't getting along super well and realized that Satan was trying to get in there and mess things up, boy did we spoil his plan!!!  The lesson went great!!!  Even though my french bagget I made had a stripe of flour down the middle....... X_x  I was so embarrassed!!! and it tasted pretty bad.... oh well, lesson learned I guess

Wednesday:

We repaired the missionaries relationship with an evangelical Food bank!!!  We ended up serving out there for 3~ hours!  And answered a lot of questions too!!!  I was also able to put my pallet jack driving skills to use (form working at Orabrush!)  Then we drove for a long long time to a galaxy far far away!  We ate at a member’s house, it went super well!!! The Mom shares my passion for amazing food, and she cooks using an old style cast iron wood oven!!!!!!!!!  O_O  it was amazing!!!  The Dad played the Banjo and guitar for a lot of awesomeness!!  And then I played Hallelujah!  (could you send me the lyrics? they want a copy)

Thursday:

um, made some AWESOME doughnuts for a DM (cinnamon sugar, powdered, vanilla, and maple!!!) they were perfect!!!!!!!!  Freezing rain sucks......

Friday:

We got to go to the Temple again :D  I made fresh bread and French toast for the Mission President and his wife...

Saturday:

I was stuck in Barrhead in a tri-panion (Elder Anderson was called early to be a District Leader)  and they didn't have much in the way of breakfast foods (no milk... at all).... I tried making a blueberry and mango cobbler.... it didn't work out too well.... at all..... but it was edible!!!!!!  I got to drive on the ice.... it sucks..... I brought a frosting set (for $1.50!!!) and a cooling rack (also $1.50!!) and we finally got home late that night after 3 days of being on the road.... :s

Sunday:

We had ~16 people (including 4-6 children) at fast sunday (it was really cool though, because we all basically shared our testimonies!!)  and then we had an awesome time burning our ties to celebrate our 6 month mark!!!!!!  Can you believe I've been gone for 6 months already?!?!?!?

Adventures Cooking for the School Board, Freezing in a Blind and Packages Stuffed With Love

Oh, there's a super funny story about my companion!! (don't worry, I got permission)  So the day I got the Balsamic Vinegar, I opened it up back home and nearly died and went to heaven!!!   I took a small spoon sip and loved it some much I offered it to my companion.  He was a bit taken back, but decided that he'd be brave..... his bravery wasn't enough to prepare him for this wonderful but somewhat strong and unfamiliar flavor....  I hope I never forget the face he made!!!!!  It was so funny, I nearly died again!!!!!!!   He looked like someone had just fed him kumquat kimchi.... I seriously wish I got a picture, but oh well...... that just means the story will get better with age ;)

Monday:

Burnt myself making doughnuts..... at least they tasted good!!!  I almost killed my thermometer.... :(  But it came back!!!!!!!   The doughnuts came out crisper than I wanted... not too bad, but not like back home either, and I feel like the temp is the culprit

We got yelled at by some guy for shoveling his sidewalk.... he said we were trespassing.... there was no sign, no fence, no gate, and were only standing on his freshly shoveled front walk.....? lol

Tuesday:

We helped shelve books at the local library :D  helped install some flooring, and had a very good day "hanging out" with a less active kid who's struggling with a lot.  Apparently it went super well!!  Oh, I was cold after sitting in a deer blind for 30-45 minutes and said a prayer that heavenly Father would help me warm my feet up and that we could continue to be a good influence.  It seemed right after that, we got to walk up this huge hill!!!  My feet and legs were very warm after :)

Wednesday:

Froze (I hadn't gotten Grandma's package yet =D )  while helping to build a set of stairs.  That night, we had a fantastic lesson (which they setup!!!!) Answered questions, felt the spirit, and found a service project that they can help us with!  The man that we were teaching also was able to give Elder Anderson and me some occupational advice for post-mission!  He owned a very successful (used to be the largest landscaping and snow removal business in western Canada) business!!!  So that was freakin sweet!!

Thursday:

We helped cook a meal for a school board meeting.  They were reheating frozen Shepard pies and were worried because they were still frozen.  They actually asked me what to do!!  It was crazy?!?!?!!  I'm just 19?!?!?!?!  Anyway, so, I remembered some things:

• foil is an insulator, pull it off!!!!!
• Mashed potatoes Don't reheat well, so we scraped those off too (besides, they were still frozen and only insulating the filling beneath....
• then, to save the mashed potatoes, we pooled our heads together... Heated them on a double boiler, added melted butter, sour cream and used an immersion blender to achieve a smooth texture!  IT WORKS!!!! It wasn't as good as fresh, but it worked!!!!!!

Then, we helped build part of a deck, cleaned someone's backyard, and meet up with our district leader and his companion for a "blitz"  (where they come to our area and see how we're doing).  They brought a package!!!!!!  So we went inside, I found some mittens, a pair of socks, boot liners, and lots of treats!!

We finished off the night by going to a Lion's club meeting about the Tsunami in the Philippines, we got our name out there and will be involved in various community service projects for it!!!

Friday:

Worked really hard at a house where we were giving service moving a bunch of stuff, hauling wood, watching the dogs chase mice, and making sausage!!!  I love grating Ginger :D  it made my hands smell amazing!!!  Except it really hurts when it squirts in your eyes..... no kidding...

Saturday:

Downloaded some awesome talks from mormon.org.  Enjoyed a lunch with the Branch President and his wife, their son and his wife, their two kids, some of our investigators, and their two kids (who are basically the same age and the Branch President’s grand-kids!)

The other notable thing is that we stopped by someone (winter roads aren't easy in 2 wheel drive with no snow tires..... :P they're gonna change our car soon though!)  and not only are they still interested, but she said we should stop by her Grandma's and offer to shovel snow.  We did, the homecare nurse was worried and had us leave. Then her daughter (a different person from our investigator) called and apologized and setup something tonight!!!!

Sunday:

We had the Primary children do their program.  Enjoyed all the talks and songs.  (Whitney's daughter actually went up by herself and sat down with the other kids!!  It was adorable!!!!)  After, we had a branch Potluck.  I brought a loaf of bread I made that morning, and not only did the french family love it!!  It was completely gone within just a little bit!!!!!!

Lead by The Spirit!

So we were delayed getting to email by 2 days (abnormal) and when we started this morning my computer froze up completely (yes, I tried ctrl-alt-del, esc, and everything else).  It was completely stuck (also kind of abnormal).  So, I let my companion know that I was frozen out and waited for anything to happen.  I decided I would try one last thing.... pray!!

 

So in my prayer, I told Heavenly Father that I KNEW He could fix my computer and that I had tried everything!  I asked that I would know what to do and said that I know that whatever happened was for a reason. it was still stuck (not as abnormal, haha)  so I started looking around for stuff to entertain/do while I waited for my comp to finish.  When I was looking behind me (something I definitely wouldn't have done if my computer was working) I noticed someone struggling to talk to the head librarian.  After seeing the familiar grunts and movements, I realized that she was signing!!!!!!!!!

 

I immediately walked over and "asked" if she was deaf.  She was and both of us were glad to find someone we could sign with!!  We signed for 5-10 minutes talking about work, back home, life, and sign language!  I even was able to suggest a cool Mormon deaf video on Youtube!!  She said when her work schedule was and so we'll stop by and sign with her again sometime!!!

 

I was completely blown away!! I was so blessed to have my email freeze!!  I was able to know instantly what the Lord wanted and what to do!!  I'm still kind of shaking from the experience!!! This isn't even the first experience this week like this where the Spirit has told us exactly what and when to do something and it has brought immediate fruits!!

Still though, even though Signing was incredible (another super cool thing I need to tell you about), just the fact that the Spirit is that close in directing us just inflates my heart and carries me away!

Check out our tree!!!  Now our study room smells like orange, popcorn, and pumpkin pie spice!!!

Monday:

-14*

tracting

made a quick reference compilation of recipes

 

Tuesday:

"Freakin" awesome answer to prayer,  we had to walk down the hill and were hoping to talk to people on the way, we made it a specific part of our departing prayer and ended up having a fantastic contact that turned into a Potential Investigator!!  The Spirit was leading the entire conversation!!  Telling us what and when to speak!!  Did service.  it was awesome!

 

Wednesday:

I bought furry inside/ leather outside coat!!!

Taught a good lesson to a family and I helped the kids solve their rubic's cubes!  (I had to take some apart in the process, but not all!!!)

 

Thursday:

I tried (and it kinda worked) to have a conversation in French with a trucker.... teehee

We had a super good lesson with a couple we’ve been working with, He's "getting better" at stop smoking... :P help, prayer, etc. would be appreciated!!!

The Lions Club is going to mention us (and the church!!!!) in the local newspaper thanking us for our service!!

Friday:

We helped to load 600 head of cattle!!  I was covered in "un-mentionables" by the end of the day, but was successful in helping truckers prep trailers, load cows, try and ride calves (lol), not have my leg broken when a cow kicked it.... (owwwwwww!!!!), wasn't seriously injured by cattle prods,  and didn't get my arm broken either!!!

Saturday:

We tracted in the middle of NOWHERE  literally, Its getting super dark by 5-6 o'clock at night... :(  but it was super fun!!!!!!!  Oh, I also used the last of our wild caught free fish.... :P  I made double battered fish sticks from scratch with the halibut fillets we had!!! (it turned out beautifully!!!!!!!!! perfect texture, consistency, smell, everything!!!)

Sunday:

President and Sister Manion visited our Branch today!!!  It was -15* this morning...... super super super cold.... XP  I asked Pres.  about becoming an ASL missionary.... and then I had this crazy experience today!!!

 

Monday:

Helped at a Crafting thing

Moved furniture

Finished kitting my rag/hotpad thing

started a tie for District Meeting the next day!!

 

Tuesday:

Finished knitting my tie (the only one I brought!!) right before the opening prayer for District Meeting

We were again delayed and lea by the Spirit to visit a certain investigator who is going through some super tough times!!  THE SPIRIT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Pretty Cold!!!!

We told Elder Eyler that everyone asks: “How cold is it?”

I'm pretty sure we spent yesterday in the negatives, but thankfully we found stuff to do so we were spared having to tract in -6*C weather.... with crazy winds and snow!!!!!!  :D  (it was still pretty cold walking around in that though....)

Monday:

We emailed, I baked some more bread, slept, bought a sharpener, and paid for a nice warm jacket from a member's trip to costco! ... yeah!

Tuesday:

We did service the entire day!!!  Worked with the highschool football team filling sand bags (it was weird/awesome being the "older/popular" kids!!!), worked inside/around/on top of that huge backhoe again (why didn't I already buy my coveralls.... :P I was covered in motor oil by the end of the day.... :P),

helped get feeding stations set up for draft horses (while they were walking around us.... [they're huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O_o]), and split wood, worked on my french, and burned old wood stuff!

Wednesday:

Even more service, again, all day long.... O_o  We worked again on the backhoes (still without coveralls... can you see "wear" I'm going with this? :P) got greased over again…

And then proceeded to be called out early to the two moves in our branch that were happening simultaneously (and thank goodness, in the same place, lol)  which lasted the rest of the day....

I WAS COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday:

Can you guess?.... even more service!!!!!!!! lol, we helped at the library, setup 2 halloween parties, carved pumpkins, moved chairs, tables, setup booths at the carnival, ate lunch, and had the Lord bless us the entire time.  I fell into bed after giving the apartment a good cleaning with our extra time that night!  (My halloween costume was a french chef.... hu-hu-hu *in a french accent* with a fake mustache and apron)

Friday:

Service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and baking..... service and baking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We helped pregnancy test about 4 dozen heifers... kinda awkward, but still super fun!!!  By the way, after 2 days in motor oil covered p-day clothes, I broke down and bought some coveralls, just in time!!!!!!  I was the one running in and around the cows getting them rounded up, lined up and in the chute for all the tests and tags...  It was so awesome!!!!!!!  Not to mention the fact that I'm super glad I was wearing my boots and coveralls while running through the un-mentionables..... lol

Then we went down to Rochester to start helping with the baking!!!!  When we first got there they kinda looked at us funny and put us to work peeling and dicing turnips.  But by the end of the night we were having a blast. Elder Anderson was having a first cleaning frozen turkeys.... imagine Mr. Magoo with a younger face and an awesome smile!!  I was making 240~ rolls.... it was a crazy day, and a huge miracle (thanks for praying specifically that it would go well!  It did!!!)

Saturday!!:

We spent the rest of the day in service!!!!!!!  We split 4-5 cords of wood... loaded and unloaded trucks

[ we interrupt this email for a cool miracle  ]

So as we were throwing split log sections (30-40lbs each) +8 feet in the air, I got super tired. ( it was just me and another guy throwing them....)  and so I knew I not only couldn't keep it up, but I wouldn't be able to help later that night or possibly the next day either...  So I did the only thing I could do, I prayed.... a lot

The answer I got came instantly and over the next day and a half.  First, the thought, had I done my part to stay in good physical condition to do the Lords work? Not really.... I need to start working out.... which sucks.... cause I'm tired and have no motivation..... But!  The Lord is extremely merciful and not only instantly gave me more strength to keep going (and stronger than before!!!!) but that I was able to help at the kitchen later that night and I wasn't sore the next day.  In fact, He decided to add in a bonus, it was daylight saving weekend and fast Sunday!!!!  So I ended up getting between 9-10 hours of sleep while still keeping the Missionary Schedule!!!!!!

[continuing transmission]

We finished the wood and avoided drinking the fly infested water.... (Elder Anderson and I were sitting across the table when they offered us some bottled water.... but we noticed a small black dot floating in the opaque jug.... our worst fears were comfirmed.... it was a fly..... X_x  Thankfully, they noticed it too and didn't make us drink the water! lol)  and headed off to help in the kitchen.  We cooked, cleaned, served, talked, and ate the night away, it was awesome!!!!!!!  I was totally in my element and was able to not only make friends with everyone in the kitchen, but we had an incredible time during and after the event!

Sunday:

A day of "rest"... lol that's funny... :P haha

Had some awesome answers to prayers/fasts.

It snowed.  It was cold.

Did service.

Taught some cool member lessons, and had fun not tracting!!!!  Lol, the Lord has blessed us in abundance!

Service with a Smile and the Art of Knitting

• I picked up a rather addicting habit for car rides and lax time.....  KNITTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  haha, yes, I know, here come the "where's your skirt, sister?" jokes, but I will stand strong in my kitchen of manliness!!!!!!!!! 
• 
  

• We drove past a hotel with the advertisement

"Try our quiet clean rooms!"

and all I could think of was Grandpa Bear making some crack about their other "noisy and dirty rooms"...

Monday:

We saw a HUGE wildfire (it light up the sky and made the moon orange.... to bad it didn't stay till halloween... :P)  I started my kitchen/hand towel! Got over a small "stress-test"  Prayer worked almost instantly!!!

Tuesday:

We found a bunch of cool service opportunities at the Native Friendship center!! (OA helped again!!!!!)

We also peaked inside during our lunch break and I found a sweet mixer!!!!!!!!!!   Its a hand/standing mixer and has attachments for a food processor and a blender!!!!  I spent the rest of lunch deep cleaning/bleaching the metaphorical tar out of it...  haha.

Then we spent the rest of the day doing service for a woman in the area(I got a good sized cut on my thumb from a power washer..... but I was also able to talk food with her!!!!! And I helped fix her quad!!!  (4 wheeler, not scriptures... lol)

Afterward, she gave us a box of garden potatoes and carrots, a loaf of homemade bread (which was super good!!!) and frozen packages of Salmon fillets (with the fins,skin, and some bones!!) and Halibut fillets that she got fresh caught from friends!!!!!!!

Then I made frosting with my new *clean*  mixer!!  :D

Wednesday:

We did service the whole day!!!!!  We helped the Branch President help a nm fix his HUGE back hoe...  at one point I was down to my waist inside the machine cleaning out gunk.... lol.  Then we worked on Pres.'s farm before a big supper!!!!

Also, a man called his wife out of the blue and asked a bunch of questions so she could get her family baptized and involved in the church!!!!!!

Thursday:

Did more service  (Bishop Blair is totally right, I'm lovin' it!!!!! XD )  we helped shelve at the library, clean up after a half dozen quilters (hauling sewing machines, moving quilts, eating extra food, mopping, sweeping, tables, chairs, etc.) it was like I was back at Humanitarian aid!!!

lol, Then we worked at the Branch mission leaders house installing floors, pulling boulders out of his lawn/driveway and burning extra wood!!!!

Another cool miracle, we stopped by the FCSS (Family & Community Support Services) and even though we didn't think we'd find much checking in again to see if they had any service. They got an email the night before asking for volunteers and had a bunch of projects lined up!!!!!

Friday:

It was Rachel's birthday!!!!!!!!  I woke up with that in mind.... haha.  Um, we spent basically the entire day doing service for a la family (who came to church on Sunday!!!) split wood, gathered/burned yard waste, dug holes, played with horses, etc!!

Saturday:

More community service  (helped clean and de-paint windows)  found more service opportunities!!!!!  I might get a degree in HRM (historical recreational management.... or something)? um.... because of my cooking background/conversations we were asked (totally out of the blue!!!) to help cook a dinner for a large school silent auction!!!!!!  and its gonna be mostly from scratch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :D

I was so happy when they asked us to help!!!!!!  I'm pretty sure I wasn't on the ground during the whole conversation!

That night I fried up the Salmon fillets some one gave us with a special sauce mix I made from stuff around the Apartment!  with fried potatoes, even Elder Anderson liked the "is that really done?" salmon!!! haha

Sunday:

Even though it was pretty cold (a high of -1 C.... tracting was.... uncomfortable) we had an awesome day at church!!!  They asked us to give the Priesthood lesson, literally at the end of Sacrament meeting (we only have 2 blocks at church, SM and P/RS)  But the Spirit was super strong and gave a great lesson!!!!!!!!!!

Another Update From Elder Eyler

The lip is almost back to normal!!!  It should be totally back to normal within the month!

Tuesday: 

I bought a muffin/brownie tin for making awesome treats :D

We helped at a family’s house clearing/moving grass, with PITCHFORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday:

We met a cool family with lots of antique stuff....  and nothing else... really.... today kinda sucked....

 

Thursday:

I MADE RASPBERRY MUFFINS FROM SCRATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also had a us super cool miracle while tracting.  We got distracted by a trail sign (talking about portage trails!!!!!) when this older lady (who was struggling to screw something into her sink faucet) looked out the window and saw us standing there!!!!!!  So we got to help her, and then God found us another service project with the Heritage Society (to restore old buildings in Athabasca!!!) on Saturday!

Friday:

We painted a door, tied rebar, I baked another loaf, and we had an AWESOME LESSON WITH JEFF AND WHITNEY!!!  The Spirit was super strong!!!!  We answered questions, soothed souls, and challenged to baptism!! They're moving down to Calgary but they're gonna stay involved and probably be baptized down there!!!!!

Saturday:

Service with the Heritage Society (we worked on a one-room school house and toured an old train station!!!!!  WE’RE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!)

I made more muffins (Banana-granola [didn't have any nuts.... :P])

I got some leather work gloves that I'll actually start using (as opposed to my bare hands, which are kinda cut up, but AWESOME LOOKING AND TOUGH!!!!)

I also baked the Grouse on top of carrots, perogies (no potatoes at home.... :P) and onions, stuffed with a homemade stuffing of nuts, berries, cheese bread, olive oil, butter, and various spices....  IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Tasted a little "grouse" though ah!!!

Sunday:

finally, yesterday, we had potluck Sunday, um, yeah..... and the birthday party for a girl in the branch - she turned 6!!

A Canadian Thanksgiving!

Monday:

Email, lot of dirty service (hauling rocks, roots, trees, etc.)  out of a field.

 

Tuesday:

We had an awesome experience with Jeff and Whitney!!!  They had an answer to prayer about being comforted when they had to put their dog down, and THEY recognized it!!!!!!

I split my lip pretty bad falling through a tire.... but its almost healed up!!!!!!  Honestly, you can't really notice it anymore....  it should be healed within 2-3 weeks.

oh, I also dislocated my shoulder... but after a priesthood blessing we were back in business that night!!!

Wednesday:

 

I freaked out when I got all my mail!!!!!!  We loved the flashlights!!!  

 

Thursday:

 

WE SAW THE NORTHERN LIGHTS!!!!!!  AND LOTS OF MOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!! AND A SLED DOG TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I also made the mistake of not taking my coat to a lesson that turned into a tracting for an hour in the freezing dark... in a short sleeve shirt... it was dumb... lol

Friday:

 

fun with two families we’re working with!!!!!!

 

Saturday:

 

Gave a lesson to a new convert

 

Sunday:

 

Gave another talk in church (about [Canadian] thanksgiving [celebrated on October 14, 2013]!!!!!!!  thanks for the Thanksgiving package!!  I used a lot of it in my talk!!!)  Had our first thanksgiving supper!!  I love pate and fresh homemade pumpkin soup!!!!! (yes, it was with the French family!!)

Monday:

 

Two thanksgiving dinners... :P  (I made a giant cinnamon roll for one and a peach cobbler (from scratch!!!) for the other!!!)  At the first, there basically weren't any members, lots of drinking and smoking... :P but we had a grace/blessing and they asked me to give it!!!  (made it casual but Mormon!!)  People thanked me for it too!!!  We saw the Northern Lights, and a dead calf with her mom wandering beside it in the road..... so we pulled it off and I said a silent pray for the cow... :(

 

And the house didn't blow up even though our pilot light went out in the middle of the night!!!!!!

The First Snow and General Conference Weekend

EVERYBODY!!!!!!!! HELLO??? CAN YOU HEAR ME OVER THE ARCTIC WINDS????  Oh, sorry, I forgot, none of you are freezing to death.... hahaha just kidding.  Things are awesome up here in the great white north!  We had our first snow fall (Oct 1st...)  and although its hovering around 7-8*C we're still having to switch between our coats, sweaters, and short sleeve shirts everyday cause the weather won't make up its freakin' mind?!?!?!

Well, on a happier note, Athabasca (There's something aboot Canadian's and their "a"s, eh?  lol) is absolutely wonderful!!  We've been busy helping, teaching, talking, walking, and driving like crazy!!  My companion and I, the branch, and the area all appreciate your thoughts and prayers, they've been felt and are absolutely necessary!!

Monday:

Drove, a lot, built some fence!  had a good LARC, and then had a super good lesson with Jeff and Whitney!!!! 

Tuesday:

Had our first snowfall. Played  a super fun finger-sized curling game! I'm actually not too bad at it!

Wednesday:

District meeting, cool spiritual thought about the Worth of souls ...  Then we drove back, and helped with baking/teaching at a youth activity!!!

Thursday:

We had a super good lesson with Lauris ...  Um, we did some service at the old folks home in Boyle, library service back in Athabasca (before that, confusing eh?) um, then we ate 2 suppers, and had to drive back on a dirt road because the main road was closed.... it was awesome!!!  Mud, fog, deer, and complete darkness!!!

Friday:

Had planning, ... found a potential investigator, ate with a bunch of foodies!  (We got to talk a lot about food/cookware!!) I got the Grouse!  I had it plucked, cleaned, and in the freezer waiting for thanksgiving in ~1 hour!!

Saturday/Sunday:

CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!  It was awesome!!!!!!!!  We didn't really have to do much at all, we taught a lesson though and got a new investigator!  A niece of one of our members. I felt like Elder Holland's talk was totally just for me!!!

Sunday night we got to try a bunch of French cheese (from a French family, and the cheese was imported from France!!!!) It was.... strong.... very strong.... but I was brave and ate everything they gave me!!!  

-Sante Maure Caprifeulli

-Le Mini Chevrot (super tiny, super... ripe)

-Tomme de Montague

-Ossau Iraty

-Fleur d'Aunis

-Camembert Austique

-Morbier

-St Nectaire

I hope everyone is doing well!!!  I've loved all the notes, letter, cards, and thoughts!!  Happy fall everyone!!!!!!

Sniffles, Service and Sharp-Tailed Grouse

Monday:

Shopped, did service all day at a non-member's house (raising granaries onto stilts.... super loud [cause I was inside while they were banging all around with hammers....] but awesome!!!!!)

Then we had a super good supper at their house!  We got back, changed, and taught a decent lesson to a different family!!  We're going back to them tonight, hopeful that the Spirit will be strong!  I also started to feel sick.... :P

Tuesday:

We stayed in the whole day because I was super sick............ XP  I've now been fighting this cold for a week now..... O_o  Our day looked like this

sleep;

wake up;

blow your nose;

eat;

drink;

repeat.

or something like that ;)

Wednesday:

Feeling a little better (after a Priesthood Blessing last night!) we did some service at a member's!!!!!!!!!  Hauled a bunch of stuff around... Got back, changed, taught a lesson, which didn't really go anywhere... :P and struggled for the rest of the night trying to find productive activities..... people can be angry for silly reasons...

Thursday:

More service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :D We were back at the non-members doing some more work (the crane had finally shown up!) um, ate some more food, tried not to die, and.... ate some more!  Oh, and we did some tracting.... :P

Friday:

We did......... *drum roll please*......... MORE SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's been a fantastic week of serving and finding!  We didn't help a ton, but it took a long time.... we ended up working on it the whole day...

Oh, so for the big story, I can now add another check to my bucket list.... My companion and I ate.............................................~roadkill~!!!!!!!  I now stand in a very small but very united group of missionaries who've eaten the unspeakable on their missions..... and, you know, it was pretty good!!!

Back story about the road kill...

So, we actually hit it with our car.... whoops.  It was a beautiful Sharp tailed Grouse (and it wasn't half bad after it met our grill either!)  

So a member showed/helped me pluck, clean, wash, and prep it!  It was an awesome experience!!!  And now I know a little more about survival!!

By the way, cleaning it made me want to try making grouse sausage sometime....  

Saturday:

Still pretty sick...  um, we tracted (...when you're sick.... it’s even worse.... :P), did our Mormon.org time (which made me realize how much I miss you guys..... :P)  Um, then we set up the church for the General Relief Society "Broad"cast (teehee :D )

I also got to do some cooking!!!  I reached out past the corndogs and cereal and made a bowl of pasta and fresh scratch Ragu!

Oh, and that Ragu?  Yup, its fresh Grouse Ragu!

Sunday:

We woke up, Elder Anderson had finally succumbed to the epidemic (which, has been sweeping the town for several weeks now.... :P)  we made it to church (as 2 of the 18 people "not sick" or gone traveling....) got a bunch of food from members... O_O <thank you!!!!  Gave a lesson to a Newly Baptized Sister and her kids, and then after getting advice from our Zone Leaders, decided to not get anybody else sick.... we slept, rested, and lounged by the humidifier until members asked if we wanted a free supper.... uh.... yes please!!!  So we had Canadian Tacos (think french crepe takes a trip south of the border... it was pretty good!!!)

Monday:

I'm still sick.... :P

A Week of Service

Monday:

After we finished email, we shopped, and then I baked... a lot...  I made an Apple Dutch Crumb from from scratch (without a recipe!) from stuff laying around the kitchen!!  And it tasted really good!! (It was super runny though... :P )

Um, after that, I made another Onion and Cheese Loaf.  And then we had dinner at a member's house, (it was super good!!!!!!!! Burgers, Greek salad, beets, and Grilled onions and blue potatoes!!!

Tuesday:

We did a ton of service!  Ride on lawn mowers, harrowing fields, moving stuff, etc, and it felt/smelled/looked like fall!!!!!  That day (the after I said it wasn't cold.. of course)  it ended up getting super nippy!  I wore my toque, sweater and scarf!

I even wore long sleeves and a toque to bed!!  Oh, so I'm practicing my french and my bread making!  Bro Raquin (the father of the French family) is a crazy good cook and really appreciates sharing stories back and forth! They tried my bread and said it was really good!!!  (He also gave me some cool advice that I tried, and it worked!!!)

Wednesday:

Um, we had a district meeting, and then a tender mercy (not having to tract in the super cold weather and instead getting to drive down to Edmonton that night)!  The zone leaders are awesome!!  They helped (basically did it all) us clean our car!!!

Thursday:

Did some service, it was fun! Then sat waiting for meetings.

Friday:

We did a bunch of service work today!!!  We started by helping the Rotary Club and then went [and] split wood at a members house (it lasted most of the day!!!!)

I caught a piece of metal shrapnel from the maul in my arm while we were splitting... it was kinda crazy,

Saturday:

Walked around a lot, did mormon.org time, etc. (I made a Raspberry cinnamon cayenne loaf!!!) They asked me late this night if I could speak tomorrow... sure!

Sunday:

They asked that my short 5-min introduction talk (which I forgot to prepare) to be lengthened to an as-long-as-possible talk.  So I ended up giving a pretty decent 10~ minute talk (which was long enough!!!!) that I prepared in Sacrament meeting.... woohoo!!  God totally helped me out!!!!!!!!!!!!  Then we taught priesthood, gave some blessings to some injured people in our branch, taught a lesson to an Indian couple (who fed us some awesome "kind of traditional"  Indian food!  With some Dried snacks which were "hot" (Called "sav"?)  I found that all those years of at least being around/trying spicy food made it taste good and be super fun!!!  That night we roasted hotdogs at a members house, and Bro. Raquin and I ate some ants!!  Big [----------] <-- (that big) ants!!!  He ate 1 "cooked" and one raw, after he killed it.  I ate one whole (and still alive!!) and one I threw it in alive and chewed it up to try and get the flavor... it was, interesting... kind of a metal tangy meaty taste.....

So that's Athabasca!  We've been commanded to use all means (safe and honorable) to get people interested. So we've been doing a lot more service!!!!!!!!!!!

Dirty hands, clean hearts!!!!!

Thanks for all the support!  

Elder Eyler's on the Move!

so lets see....

 

T: exchanges with Elder Lee.  He's from Kaysville, so we got to talk about how awesome Utah is!!!  :D  Reagan canceled her appointment... :P

W: We learned the modernday application about 1 nephi 17:12 ;)  and drove for a long long time... (Three hills down to swolwell, back, to linden, back, to elnora, down and over to olds, then up to red deer.... :P

Th: We had a meeting that I wasn't super excited for, but (with some personal encouragement from some awesome missionaries :D) I had a super spiritually exploding awesome time!!!!!!!!!  Then we got lots of mail, email rewrites, thanksgiving, Grandpa's sweater (I'll send you a pict next week :D) and a package from Rachel!!!!  We gave service (yardwork, and peeled and sliced 20 cups of apples!).  Then we tracted into an awesome couple!!!!!!!!!!!!  Brian and Mary are the best!  And they came to the Corn bust (branch activity) on Saturday!!!  Then I ate two huge burgers.... :P  (btw I really like cranberry gingerale!)

F: We helped Brian and Mary with painting and service and stuff!!!  (They kinda remind me of you guys!!)  We talked a lot about cooking, taxidermy, hunting, woodworking, etc.... it was awesome!!  Also we got to do some Mormon.org time!  

Sa:  I made a loaf of blueberry cinnamon bread!!!  (after I picked out the still edible blueberries.... shhhh) it went super well!!  I was able to bring it the next day and everybody really liked it!  We also had our branch Corn bust!!  They decided to put us incharge and so we put toegether a bunch of minute-to-win-it games!!!  We had everyone involved and laughing up a storm with our "corny" jokes!!  (Ask them for pictures!)  Anyway, it was like old times when mom was running the ward activities!!!  haha...  we even had Brian and Mary involved!  You couldn't tell they weren't members!! We also had a lesson with the couple that stopped us, we're not super hopeful, but maybe the wife will start a landslide! 

Here are some photos from the event!

Su:Sunday we had Branch Conference.  I haven't seen so many people at church in ages!!!!!!  (okay, it was only like 30-35... but still!!)  The potluck went really well!!!  (people liked my bread!) Reagan and Sister Parker came to the CES fireside with Elder Nelson, and it applied really well to Reagan!!!!  Hopefully she'll start to gear up... :P

mo: Um, we dug trenches, made food, ate, slept, did laundry, and got our transfer calls.... 

 

I'm now in Athabasca! We don't currently have any progressing investigators, but we have a lot of people that we're prying out of the wood work!!!!!!!!  Elder Anderson and I are a little scared/confused/daunted/tired/bewildered at trying to keep on the work as two green little Utah boys... 

 I had a first!!  We got to help at the "walk a mile in her shoes" event!!!!!!  It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think a day has past without something from scouts coming to mind.... haha

Besides digging, hauling cement, etc..  We also helped some folks who are about to open a "$1 dollar store"  So we moved and installed shelving, moved products, etc...  Things are pretty fun though

The branch is fun, small.  The town is pop. wise smaller but geo. bigger than three hills.  I basically went from Cowboys and Indians, to Ferrymen and FurTraders..... but its awesome!!!!!!

Its gotten chilly-er... a lot of leaves are gone, windy.  And now we start and end our day in darkness.... O_o

Keep the Faith

 Spread the Fire

   --Elder Michael Eyler