Two Weeks of Letters...more pictures to follow

Its been another great week in Oakville!

I think we finally finished up all of our Thanksgiving dinners yesterday. Its all been really good, but we've had three or four full out dinners the past couple of days and turkey is getting a little old, but we're thankful for everything and everyone that helped us out and made sure we were full. We were in the city again this past week. Everything was going fine untill about 3:30 AM! Elder Westfall woke up to an Alarm telling us to get to the first floor (we were on the 7th). So he finally gets me and the other Elders up and we get down stairs. As we get there we see probably eight or so firemen all dressed up all doing different things. It was quite the experinece. Luckily nothing happened (I think one of the alarms malfunctioned or something). So we all slowly went back up stairs and fell back asleep. We also went on Exchanges with the Assistants on Fri. I went with Elder Nelson. We were talking about how this was probably our last Exchange (he goes home after next transfer and he'll probably not be an Assistant any more, and I might not be a zone leader either). We had a really good time and got caught up on everything that has been happening.

Our investigators are doing alright. Margret just keeps pluging along, hopefully she'll be baptized right before Christmas (she's going out of town next week and wants to do it after she gets back). TJ didnt come to church, and we havent been able to teach him lately either or even get a hold of him. Steve and Shelly are doing well too. We weren't able to teach a lesson with both of them because of the crazyness of the week, and next week is just as crazy (we have ZLC, and exchanges almost everyday this next week!).

Mom-Really, I dont need anything. As for places to eat, there is pretty much everything here except Wendys. Oh, I almost forgot Happy late Birthday! Sister Bankhead gave me something to send to you, but I keep forgeting so I'll send it soon.
Dad-The weather has been good. A little cold but nothing too bad. Sounds like Thanksgiving was nice.
Anyway, have a great week.
Love,
Elder Egan



Its been another fantastic week in Oakville! The reason im writing today is because Elder Bednar came yesterday! It was Awesome!! He talked a lot about how our investigators are agents to act, not objects to be acted upon. He showed us this by example more that anything. He treated us as equals, and let us use our agency. Let me explain a little. He started off by asking us what we learned from some of his recent talks (his office sent us two, "Ask in Faith" and "Seek learning by Faith"). After talking about what we learned he would always ask if he could expound on it or "elevate a point that [was] made." We could then say yes or no (everyone said yes) and use our agency in that way to learn more. At the very begining, we were already with our pens and note paper and he says "don't write down anything that I say." We were all sorta taken back and then he explained why. He said that it was a "foolish tradition in the church" that the members write down everything that a General Authority says. He then asked how many of us look at our notes a month after we wrote them, and then how many people know where their notes are after a month. most of us agreed that we don't usually look back. Then he talked about how we do need to write things down though, but its the things that the spirit teaches us, not what the speaker says. At the end he opened it up for questions. He told us about two different types of questions. The first are ones that deal with our specific investigators and what we should do. He said "thats not a bad question, but I'll just answer it now. I have never met that person and therefore wouldnt know what they need.... you have though." The second type of question was one that "only Elder Bednar, an Apostle could answer." He gave us an example of asking what it was like to be one of 14 men who were in the room of the temple when the prophetic mantel fell upon Pres. Monson. He then said that that was a much better question. He went on to say that you will probably never have an opportunity to be able to ask an Apostle a question in that small of group (there was probably a little over 200 there, with 190 missionaries and some drivers). So you can imagine that all of the questions were really good. There was one about how he has been able to magnify his calling. In order to answer that he had his son come up (his son is going to the University of Illinois, which is in our mission) and tell us how his dad has done that. He talked about how magnifying our calling doesn't mean making it bigger but keeping it simple and consistant. Another missionary asked about having "dull" times of spirituality, or in other words as Elder Bednar said it, not having a spiritual 2x4 hit you all the time. He then said that when we don't have spiritual experiences all of the time it is the Lord showing us His trust in us, that we don't need them constantly. So all in all it was super neat and maybe when I get home I can tell you about the question that I asked and the answer that he gave me. I've tried a couple of times to put it in my journal and in writing but it never quite seems to fit. Don't get too excited, its nothing huge, but it is a condition and a promise that was given to me by an Apostle, its pretty neat. He didn't give me the answer, nor did I ask for the answer, but rather how to find the answer.

So, as amazing as yesterday was there is always the opposition to those blessings. Well my opposition came the day before on Sunday. I woke up multipule times Sunday morning with a really bad upset stomache (I didnt get any more that 4 hrs of sleep) but I got up and we went to a Stake meeting and then to a ward meeting where Bro. Firth, our Ward mission leader, finally sent me home. I was super pale and just wasn't feeling good. Luckily it only really lasted for 24 hrs but I'm still feeling the effects. I haven't had a "meal" since Sat night. I've had a few bites here and there but nothing really. It was miserable though. All I did was lay on the sofa and watch church movies. During church I had one of the other Oakville elders stay with me so that an elder from each comp. was at church for our investigators. Then the Bankheads got home so I was with Pres. Bankhead for the rest of the night. Elder Westfall went with an RM that has been helping us out a lot.

Mom-I really don't need anything. A new tie or two is always fun though, haha. So now a little family history about our ward. Everyone is related to everyone. There are really only two or three families. The Bankheads-I started off by living with Brent and Laurice. His mom and dad are Dee and Anita, who we live with now. Eventually we will move back in with Brent though. I mentioned Bro. Firth a little earlier. Well he married Brents oldest sister and lives across the street from us. Dee and Anita, the mom and dad, are in the Temple Presidency for their second time. So hope that is all clear as mud. We have a lot of dinners/meals but when we don't frozen burritos and pot pies are our favorites.

Dad-Have fun in all that snow and maybe ice. We are finally supposed to start getting cold again. We've been able to hold off really nicely. Its been in the 70's for the past couple of weeks. Have fun with everyone at Thanksgiving, give everyone my love. We go to the members homes. We have our "official" dinner with the Bishops sisters family (again some more crazy family stuff in the ward) and then we might spend some time with the Bankheads and Firths.
Have a great week.