I think this is how I always start out my letters to my wonderful family and friends but i'm going to do it again... I LOVE THE MTC!!! haha seriously though this place is so great! The spirit is always so strong here. This past week Elder Hunter and I had the opportunity to teach our District Meeting lesson. Our teacher sitting in on the lesson said it was one of the best he has ever heard. (meaning he's probably only heard 2 lessons but anyways...) haha Our lesson was on having Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What a topic right? It was so much fun studying and learning about christ and his sacrifice for all the children of men. I seriously learned so much. One scripture that I shared and expounded on because I loved so much was the scripture 1 Nephi 19:9. I love it for many reasons! but mostly how it shows the love Jesus Christ had for all of his children. And how he had the Natural Men of the world beating him and spitting on him but yet he still loved them. Christ loves everyone. I love that. People may hurt us in some way but the thing to do is do as christ would and forget about it and love them back. Even if they are mean. Love everyone with all your heart. Don't judge, because I know if we are caught in the act of judging we will have no one to blame but ourselves. I loved that scripture. Take what you get out of it but I know with a fact you'll get something!

This week we also got to hear a fireside talk by Brother Watson.. Let me just say WOW!! He is like the Director of prosolyting (however you spell it) and he talked about the importance of our "Dear friend" the Book of Mormon! We can look to the Book of Mormon for any questions we may have! He touched on how the world is making plays and doing things to pretty much make missionaries and the Book of Mormon look dumb and goofy. He told us to NEVER go to anything that talks bad about this book. And how it is our Job to go and stand up for the Truth in it! It was really good I loved his talk so much!

I am so excited to share my BDAY in the MTC with my boys coming from STG!! I can't wait. I am going to do everything I can to get out there to meet with Dillon and Connor! 

Anyways I love you all so much! Thanks for the continuation of love and support!

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Ovard

I don't know where to start this week to be quite honest with you all! My week has been another amazing one here at the MTC but my thoughts and prayers are with you all back home in STG. I know I am where I need to be but I would do anything to take a day of service and go down and help you all. Sounds like that flood was quite a suprise and quite devastating. Many people and their homes have been affected. The Lord does things for a reason though and I believe this is just another one of those test's he is putting on the great people of Santa Clara. Shan and Sue I know are two of the strongest people in the gospel and I know the Lord is only giving them another obstacle in their life to test their faith. I know that they can handle it and will look to the Lord for help. I love all you guys and hope you will feel of my love these next few weeks especially! Also thanks for all the letters, emails, packages and all the support each and everyone of you have been giving me. In the busy world and you all still find the time to write me! I appreciate it and love it!

The MTC this past week was great again! The language is slowly slowly coming, but with work I know it will come when I need it to through the spirit. We are missionaries here at the MTC to learn the Gospel and how to come unto Christ. Not to learn the language! That is one thing that is helping me! I have found that if I study hard and learn what I want to teach in english, then somehow it will just come in he lessons when I need it in spanish.

I had to say bye to Elder Know this week! He left for Chile and boy it was exciting to see him go! Not that I don't want to see him anymore haha but the fact that he is ready to serve the Lord and he is going to bring others unto Christ! We both just had big smiles as we left each other! I love him and the help he gave me while he was here!

I hope all is doing well back home I love you all and hope the best this week for each and everyone of you! I have the best familie and friends in the world!

Hasta Luego!

Hola Familia!

Hola Familia!

Still can't believe this MTC life! It is amazing! I learn so much everyday whether it is about the gospel or our Heavenly Father humbling me haha but I am still learning!

How is everyone doing? Sound like the reunion was fun! I still can't believe I am gone, It's crazy! I am doing super good though. This week we had an amazing experience happen to us I guess you could say! Anyways we had our first TRC experience. What you do is a member from around here in the provo area I guess you could say comes and talks to us and we give them a lesson. It is pretty much just like home teaching in a way! It reminds me of going with grandpa gubs! It was so spiritual though. As soon as we walked in the room the spirit hit the room and joined us! we talked and talked. The spanish was just coming without even knowing what I was saying! Anyways though turns out we got to know this guy. He was 22 and just got back from his mission in Argentina. Sure enough the same exact mission as Dev and Branson. haha so I asked him if he knew either on of them and he said no.. but it was worth a shot :) We then just continued teaching him about the Plan of Salvation! It was our first experience as a companionship teaching it and it went great!

The MTC is full of experiences and blessings like these! You just always are feeling of the spirit! My mom told me Uncle Shan and Sue were here for our mission conference we had last week. It was too bad I didn't get to see them, but the next day in like for breakfast I was talking with Elder Knox (Elliot) and he told me how he saw them and how happy and fun they were! It bugged me a little to be honest haha why didn't I see them :( jk I think I was in the over flow building unfortunately!

Anyways alright Family I better getting going! I love you all so much! I have the BEST family in the world! Elders are always like so how many letters did Elder Ovard get today haha I just laugh and say don't worry don't worry thats what happens when you have a big BIG loving family :)

Love you and best of luck this week

Elder Ovard

Hola!!

Hola from the MTC!!!

A week down and here I'm am on the Computer again!! It is crazy how fast the time is flying by here! I love it! Of course the language is hard, but nothing comes easy in anything you do, right? This past week we had a wonderful experience that I don't know if I will EVER forget! Elder Hunter and I were able to commit our first investigatory to baptism! The amazing thing was though, we were saying spanish words that we didn't even know how to say. The spirit and Holy Ghost truly took over and started teaching and it was amazing! We could just feel the spirit so strongly. During the entire lesson my companion and me were just smiling and looking him straight in the eyes and telling him about Christ, Joseph Smith, the book of mormon, the Atonement and how we can live together with our families forever! Even if our spanish wasn't perfect, we got our point across and that was all that mattered! That is one very important thing I have learned while being here! It's not us teaching, its the spirit! Us as missionaries have the purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them learn the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Through all of our principals in our church! We pray for experiences like this to continue to happen as long as we work for them! I know they will! If we do all we can and are obedient then the lord will bless us! After all by small and simple things...right? we receive great things!! Blessing from the lord are amazing and we will always get them as long as we are doing what is right!
I love this gospel so much and the opportunity I have to be here in the MTC taking it all in at once! Then being able to go and share it with the world! What greater joy:)
I am loving everything about this place! The food is amazing, I have already gained around 5-6 pounds and still gaining haha It is bomb!!! Me and my companion always play basketball and work out! Yesterday we played softball and man, it feels good to swing that bat. Even if i'm swinging straight up in the air to try and hit a softball!
Maynerd keep tearing it up with football!! It sounds like you had quite the game the other night! Good luck tonight and make sure you give it all you got! Your a stud man!
Sounds like Dev and Nick are doing really well! Can't believe they have all already gone through the process in which I'm doing right now! It's amazing to think how many amazing young men come through here not knowing much but by the time they leave they know the gospel and maybe a language!
I love you all so so much and want you to know how happy I am! I hope all is well back home and the hope the family is doing great!

With much love from the MTC, Elder Ovard

1st week in the MTC

Hola!

How is everyone? I hope you are all doing as good as I am! I love it hear. I got hear and went straight to a class where they were speaking all spanish. Not one word was in english, it was crazy! I truly have been blessed all ready though and I have been hear all of a 3 days. My companion is Elder Hunter. He is from American Fork. My baseball coach that I had over the summer actually taught his PE class! He loves sports though. He is 6'5 and actually going to ST GEORGE to play basketball at Dixie when he gets home! I love him though he is an amazing Elder and I am glad I'll be working with him for the next 2 months!

The spanish is hard but it will get there. Elder Hunter and I work at it everyday and the next day we know that much more. Yesterday we learned how to say a prayer and bear our testimonies in Espanol! It was interesting but very cool. We even taught out first investigator yesterday in spanish! haha it was ugly but we got er done!

Anyways I'm running out of time! I'll hit you all up with a better one next week. My pday is on fridays!

Adios Mi Familia! I love you all and hope your doing well!

Love, Elder Ovard