The Adventures of Elder Pitt

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March 2-8 (week 67)

Aloha Family and Friends,

Well I survived the holiday and things are slowly but surely getting back to normal. A lot happened this week so I'm not to sure where to start but we'll start at Wednesday.

On Wednesday my district took a long ride up to a little town called khatgal for the ice festival that takes place every year at lake khuvsgul, the biggest lake in Mongolia, so big that they call it a sea. The whole festival takes place on the iced over lake and it's quite the event. There are all kinds of ice sculptures, races, contests, and venders selling all sorts of odds and ends. Usually cars drive across the lake to get to the festival, but since there was an American in our vehicle (me), and the police had set up a post we decided it was best to get out and walk from the shore in order to avoid any silly fees. So the other three Elder's and I ended up walking/sliding the last 5 miles across the ice, while the rest of the members that had come along and the sisters went by car. I call it a car, but it is more of a Russian off-road four-wheeling twinkie shaped van. Anyways, it was really fun and I got to see all sorts of cool thing. I'll try to send some pictures today if the computers cooperate. Speaking of pictures I apparently showed up on Mongolian TV wearing my big fox hat. I don't remember being around any TV camera's but apparently they saw me.

Saturday was spent at the church running all kinds of different activities for Mongolia's women's day. My companion is the branch young men's president so we spent the morning with the young men putting on an activity for the young women in the branch. I made something like unto fried apple pies, and the young men decorated a room and set up tables with candy fruits and beverages. After that we got sucked into helping with the activity that the Elder's quorum was putting on for the branch relief society. It was a big to do with lot's of singing and food. Just about everyone was forced into singing a song, they called me up and tried to get me to sing, but unfortunately/fortunately I don't know any songs about mothers in Mongolian or English, and I'm much to stubborn to fake it.

Sunday night the missionaries put on our own women's/mother's day fireside . We planned all week for it and prepared a number of musical numbers, talks and recorded several members feelings about their mothers on my camera. My companion, and the branch president (my previous companion), both spoke. I originally wasn't supposed to speak or do anything, but at the last minute they asked if I could just share my feelings. Outside of that all the missionaries sang solo traditional Mongolian songs about mothers, except for me. It was a real touchy feely event, I don't think there was a dry eye in the building except for me, and the little kids who weren't paying attention. It's awkward being the only one who's not crying, makes me wonder if there is something wrong with me. Anyways, seeing that I was told at the last minute I wasn't sure what to share but at the last minute right as I stood up to take the pulpit I remembered how when I was little and Mom had stepped out for a moment while I was taking a nap, and how I woke up and couldn't find her and how thought I would never see her again. I don't know if that's my own memory or if I remember it because Mom and Dad told me about it later, but it's one of my earliest memories. I told how scared I felt and related it to the Plan of Salvation and how through the plan of salvation I never have to fear not ever getting to see my mother again, because through the plan of salvation I can live with her for ever. It was a good moment for me. Despite not being able to prepare I felt no anxiety and the words seemed to flow out of me easily. The spirit was truly in that meeting, and when it ended everyone quitely got up and left with same reverence and spirit. I kind of wish mom was here to have seen it, but even if she was she would have never understood any of it.

Anyways that's my week in a nutshell....
sorry it looks like I can't send pictures this week I'm out of time

About me:

My name is Cameron Pitt and from Sept. 5, 2007 until Sept. 5, 2009 I'll be serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This site will chronicle my experiences while serving in the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Mission.The stories posted on this site will be transcribed from letters sent to my family, by my mother.

Contact Me:

While on my mission I will only be able to communicate via written mail. If you would like to contact me you can do so at the following address (note the section in red should be on 1 line) :