Sept 25

Dear people,

I am glad to hear that D loved the car and the letter. I am not sure if I have an address for C and K. I have an address but I think I got that before they bought a house. So I figured it would be good to send it to Mom and Dad's home.

This week was busy. We did not reach any of our goals this week. We got close to a lot of them. I feel like we did our best. We had 8 team ups, all to see investigators but the appointments didn’t pull through. We had 3 committed investigators at one point this week but things happened and they were dropped. New investigators? We fell short of 2. There was probably more we could have done there. We lost at least a whole day in preparation for a training we gave to the district leaders and also for a coordination meeting with the stake president. It took us a while to get all of the info. Regardless there was probably something more we could have done to find 2 more new investigators.

So the 2 girls who were going to get baptized on the 1st, L and S, have both been dropped on account of their parents, who are taking them back to their old church. Our next goal is to start meeting with the parents and teach the whole family. I really hope we get to teach them. I love those little girls.

So ya, this week we had a marathon of planning, split team-ups, and dropped appointments. I know that we will yet find some one to teach and to baptize.

As for my birthday......... no clue. I guess it would be awesome if I could just take a rain check till after I get home, because I am sure there will be things there at home that I will need/want more then here. I pretty much have every thing I need here, except Investigators. That's it! For my birthday find me some one in Cleveland TN (Bradly county and Polk county TN) who will get baptized! That would be awesome!

Well, hope all is well on!

-eldervonsowards

Aug 21

dear familia, Aug 21, 2011

The members here in Cleveland are awesome. There are four families that have already fed us 2-3 times since I came here. One of them is a wonderful family from Mexico. My companion is a Spanish speaking missionary. It is so cool being inside a Spanish home and eating Mexican food and hearing Spanish. It reminds me of sweet home Arizona. We were at their house, teaching a friend of theirs who happens to be from the Philippines. Listening to them all speak with their thick homeland accents just made me smile. In my thoughts I said, "This sure is different, no one in here has a southern accent."

Yesterday, I had my first opportunity to talk in the ward. The first counselor called and asked if Elder Sexton and I could speak in sacrament and if one of us could speak on the Restoration and the other speak on the Doctrine of Christ. I ended up with the restoration. As I studied and prepared and studied some more, thoughts kept bouncing around my head like bingo balls as excitedly bounce around their spinning cage, all wanting to be the one that is picked, but none actually made it on the page. So finally, after prayer and thought, I came to the conclusion that I should simply rely on the Spirit and call it that. I wondered if I was being lazy or complacent or even arrogant, but it felt like that was what I should do. I remember sitting in thought while the sacrament was being past, wondering if my preparation was adequate. saying a silent prayer. In my fears, I asked God to fill me with the Spirit as well as all the wonderful people in the congregation, so that we could all learn and be edified. I said to myself, "Don't be afraid and just do it." That talk was amazing, for me anyway. I began speaking, and as a scripture or a "Preach My Gospel" quote came to mind, I opened my books and read the passage, unaware of how I found it so fast. I am so thankful that the Spirit was there so I could give that talk. I am also very thankful that I studied in preparation or I would have never been prompted to read those scriptures.

So apart from speaking, I also got to give my first training as a Zone Leader. We hold a district leader's training for all the district leaders in our Zone. I found out at the last minute from my companion that I was to also conduct the meeting. I talked on the attitudes and examples they as district leaders need to have, or set, for the missionaries they serve over, also I talked on nightly phone calls and district meetings, while Elder Sexton trained on Key indicators, exchanges, and baptismal interviews. It was odd for me to train on this because there were elders there who had been district leaders longer than I'd been, even one that had been out longer than me. Both Elder Sexton and myself felt that it had lasted a little long, but in the recap afterwards with President and Sister Irion and the assistants, they said that it was the shortest of all the other zone's trainings. I am glad it went well.

I got to do an exchange with an Elder Pattison. He is an excellent missionary. He has been out on his mission for as long as I've been in Cleveland. He is a Spanish speaking elder. While I served and taught with him, I saw his great love for this work. He wants to be his best.

At one point I made a comment that he might be called to train at the end of his time being trained. Most missionaries when you make that comment will say, "Oh heck no!" out of an attempt to sound modest or humble, even if they really would like to have that type of calling. I have also seen missionaries respond to that kind of comment in a very self serving way. Both are kind of prideful and in an attempt to draw attention to one's self. He just said, "Wow! that would be so cool! you really think so?" When he said that, it reflected upon myself. I knew I would not have responded in the same way he did, but more with the feigned modesty and humility way. His comment was not self serving or self degrading but a simple and enthusiastic expression of his love for the Lord's work and his fellow missionaries. I hope I can be like this young elder.

Well I hope all is doing well and that we all grow stronger in the faith.
-eldervonsowards

Aug 14

Dear Arizona, Aug 14, 2011

Wow! Two little girls! Wow!

I am SO happy! Congratulations Tas and C.! I think the custom is to smoke a cigar, but due to that being bad, I say, "Go eat a Twix!" Wow!

So yes. I have been transferred. I am in Cleveland (like I said). My new companion is from Chino Valley AZ (actually his parents have moved now to St. Johns, I think). He actually knows the Blairs! They were in the same ward.

Cleveland is a pretty tight place. It is in the same zone as South Pittsburg, my area before Bristol. Two weeks before I got here, the ward got a new bishop. He was the former 1st counselor in the mission presidency until he was called as a bishop. He is gun-ho about missionary work. He says the goal is for baptize every week and that we will do it. His plan of action is that us as missionaries to work as if there is no ward or branch or anything here, as if we were opening the church and find/teach/baptized people that way. Then, from his side, he will work with the members and find/teach/baptize that way. I pray that it will work.

Here in Cleveland we are not teaching anyone too consistently, but that will pick up. There are quite a few investigators that are on the edge of being awesome and that we are really excited for. I'll have to let you know when I know more myself.

-eldervonsowards

Aug 7

Dear All, Aug 7, 2011

Thank you for the letters. I'm glad to hear that Cory is home safely and that all is going well. It definitely would be interesting if the little girls were born this week. Their family is in my prayers.

So I've got news. I will be leaving Bristol this Wednesday. For once, I actually know were I am going, or at least think I do. I will be going to Cleveland TN. The reason I know is because I have been called to serve as a zone leader, and that is the only area that will be lacking a zone leader. Who knows, anything can happen.

So I stood and bore my testimony in sacrament meeting yesterday. I was trying not to cry. I'm not sure if I won. T had also got up to bare her testimony, and she broke down. Not because I was leaving (she didn't know yet) but because she had [struggled all week]. Have you ever felt like you finally started to figure things out and do things right, and every one was so happy for you, but then it gets really hard to continue being perfect and so you are so ashamed to face all those people that thought you were doing SO well? That is how she was feeling.

On Wednesday we met her at a park and we brought her two talks by elder Holland. One, he takes the story from Moses chapter 1 where after Moses has this marvelous revelation, Satan attacks him. It shows us that we should never let our guard down. In the the other article, he shares an experience when, many years ago when he was a young father, he felt all hope was lost, but now he can see that there were good things to come.

Anyway, she has been going through some hard times and she got up and explained her situation. I remember feeling.... maybe compassion.... for her as she pleaded for the ward's forgiveness. No one in the ward held anything against her. There were several members that got up later and gave their love and support, and also their testimonies of how they know that when we sin we just need to keep going, and repent.

I got up at the end of the meeting and announced that I was leaving. After sharing my love, gratitude, and testimony that Christ will always helps us through our darkest hours, I asked the ward to please keep T safe. She is such an amazing lady with such an amazing story and spirit. She will always love. I had many members thank me for my service as well as my charge to them to keep her safe. That meant a lot.

The best part of it all was seeing all the members who went to T afterwards, giving her hugs and commending her for her courage and endurance. I know that she is in good hands.

-eldervonsowards

Aug 01

Dear family, Aug 1, 2011

This week was kind of slow. We did a lot of tracting, with not so much success. I do know that tracting helps. It shows God that he can trust us. It is interesting. I have found that even if blessings don't come directly from tracting, they will still come later another way. It's like all those blessing are just stored away in a savings account that you never use and later down the road you have this nice goose egg waiting for you. I've seen that being diligent and faithful always yields blessings later, some way or another.

We did get 7 referrals this week! And we started the week with a few referrals. Then we contacted 6 of all those referrals! That has to be the most I've received and contacted in one week. The only thing that bugs me is that none of them became new investigators. I know you're not suppose to beat yourself up over stuff like that, because of people's agency and all, but it is true that you do need to sometimes take a step back and re-evaluation yourself and see where correction is needed. Do ya'll have any advice?

I am really happy with my district and how they are willing to work with me. Our mission has had this tradition of going out to eat "district lunch" every Friday at a restaurant after our meeting. Our mission president, Pres. Irion, asked the mission to stop eating district lunch at restraunts every week except for maybe once a month. There was a time when President Griffin asked us to do that and the district I was in refused to obey that rule. When I was told, I was kind of scared to see how my district would take to it. They took it very well. They rejoiced because they were all running out of money on their mission fund cards, due to eating out so often, and would have to use thier home cards. Now every week, we organize a lunch that every one brings something to add. This will be cheaper and healthier. I am glad it is going so well.

-eldervonsowards

July 24

Dear all, July 24, 2011

This last week was fabulouso!
Monday: Appointments fell through, tracted and taught one lesson.

Tuesday: We tracted, volunteered and played BINGO at an assisted living home, then had T's baptism. The baptism was beautiful and probably the best attended we've have had here in Bristol. We asked T. if she would bear her testimony and she said that she was hoping we would ask. We had implied that we would have the baptism, get into dry clothing and then afterwards, have her stand up. I guess we didn't explain that right bacause when she popped out of the water she immediately proceeded to tell her story and the feelings of her heart right there standing in the water. I was the one performing the ordinance and so that just left me standing behind her unsure if I should step to the side and leave her in the "spotlight," or just stay there standing behind her. I compromised by leaning against the back wall. It was an amazing testimony and being there in the font just made it SO uniquely her. The ward wouldn't have her any other way.

Wednesday, we had a lot of appointments and all but one fell through. So lots of back up tracting that day. BUT! that one appointment made it all worth it. It always does! It was with a part member brother. Awesome lesson! We read Moses ch 1 and he had some amazing insight.

Thursday we held a district meeting and I went on an exchange with Elder Hansen, a missionary in my district. We had an excellent day. We taught a media refferal, gave a less-active a job lead and a lesson, had dinner at an awesome active member home, went on a team-up with the member and taught T about family history and temples, then went on a follow-up appointment to a new investigator who had actually read the pamphlet we gave him, and had questions. It was a good day.

Friday, we weekly planned. We were invited to teach at the stake Youth conference. The youth seemed a little bored but all the leaders said it was because the youth wouldn't go to sleep the previous night.

Saturday: lots of tracting and fall throughs.

On Sunday we got to see T confirmed. The part member brother came, too, and stayed the whole time. The ward is so excited to have this new member.

I love being a missionary!
-eldervonsowards

July 03

Dear all,

Last week was pretty cool.

Monday night, we were coming back from Abingdaon where we spent P-day. We figured we should use that time and visit people who were on our way back to the house. So we called a part-member/rescue family to ask if we could come by. We visited them and had an awesome lesson on the spirit world.

Tuesday, we had a return appointment with a guy we met the previous week. He was not home, but we noticed the family next door had all their stuff out on the yard and the father was loading everything into a Durango while the mother and little girls brought stuff out to the yard. They all looked very stressed. We asked if we could help and he said, "Oh you wouldn't want to." We said, "We do want to help you," so we got to spend the rest of the afternoon helping this little family. The father hadn't slept for 3 days! It was pouring rain by the end of the afternoon, but we got to help them. Afterward, we went to teach T., who is getting baptized on the 12th, and took with us a member of the bishopric. It was an awesome lesson.

Wednesday, we did a lot of tracting. In the evening, we went with a brother, who JUST got home from his mission, to teach a guy referred to us by a member in Nashville. M., the investigator, has a lot of skeptical questions. We invited him to pray and read, and promised that God would give him understanding.

Thursday we went with the high priest group leader to teach T. again, She is doing awesome! The brother loved the lesson and said it was the best team-up he had gone on for a while. We then went on another team up and saw a less-active.

Friday we visited F. Great lesson. He is preparing to be batized on the 12th, as well.

Saturday we visited alot of people from the area book but did not get to teach any of them.

On Sunday T. got up and bore her testimony and told the ward that she is going to become a Mormon on the 12th and that she is putting down the cigarette. She is awesome!

-eldervonsowards

June 26

Dearest Family,

This week was pretty awesome.

On Monday night we were walking around, trying to figure out what to do and two less-actives pull over and ask if we could help move a dryer. So we helped, and they bought us dinner.

Tuesday we had dinner with a member family that I had never been to their house and they sent food home with us (we were literally out of food in the apartment). Then we went and taught T, the investigator who we re-contacted and she came to church, an awesome lesson about the pre-earth life and Adam and Eve. She is awesome!

Then on Wednesday we got to go with a member to teach a less-active/part-member family and talk to them about what they need to become active. They committed themselves to come to church. Then they asked us to dedicate their home, so we did. As we went home, an Idaho number called us and gave us a referral. Miracle!

Thursday, I got a member, who loves to take us to Golden Coral every other week (you get tired of it after 6 months,) to actually do something different and take us to Cracker Barrel! We contacted the [Idahoans] referral. The man was pretty cool, a little skeptical though.

On Friday, we were able to go with a member to teach T. She is going through some hard time. We invited her to set a goal to quit smoking and be baptized on the 12th of July. She accepted the invitation.

On Saturday we went with a member to teach Cousin Freddy. We read with him the Word of Wisdom. Then we went to dinner and the family gave us a referral to visit, so we went to the house, but no answer. We will go back another time.

So Sunday--I love Sundays. It is like the test at the end of the week to see if your week's work was effective, but unlike Friday school tests, you don't have to be nervous because even if the investigators don't come, you still get to take the Sacrament, be around others who have the same beliefs, and get to be the student in a lesson instead of being the teacher. So at church, T came, Freddy came, the less-active/part-member family came, and a returning member who we didn't get to see during the week but came last week. Wonderful day!

It truly was a good week!

-eldervonsowards

June 19

Dear family,

Wow! Is there going to be anything left of Arizona when I get back, or is it just going to be a big pile of ashes? I'm glad to hear that Tas and Al are safe and that their house is too. I hope everyone else is safe, too.

You know in times like this, I really get excited, then scared. Is that heartless to say? Maybe once I actually have a career and property to loose, things that would throw my life out of whack, then I would be more emotional in situations like fires, and tornadoes and tsunamis. Right now I see going through something like [a disaster] as adventurous. Is that bad?

Anyway, last week was pretty cool. We had been using the area book alot more. We met a guy named Tony whom we met from a "potential investigator record". He was not the guy we were looking for, but he was interested. We also met a lady named Teressa, from the "former investigators". She, at first, was not interested, but as we talked to her, she made up her mind to come to church this Sunday. SHE CAME! and is eagerly waiting for our visit on tuesday night. I am excited.

We also had cousin Freddy come. He has been a little stagnant for a while, but is turning a round. He told us he feels like he is merely going through the motions and not really putting effort into it and that he feels that there is more for him to do. We challenged him to put more effort into his study and prayer. He will be reading section 89 of the D&C and Daniel ch. 1-2.

Now apart from the investigators we had 2 less actives come to church last week and a non-member couple who work with 2 different members. They came about a month ago and accepted us coming over but things didn't work out then and they were dropped. We will drop in on them later this week.

I will be in Bristol for at least another 7 weeks. That will total 7 1/2 months in Bristol, the longest I have been in an area. Wow. I am excited. This means that I will get to be at the member fireside "symposium" on July 7th that I originally suggested back in Feb. Everyone in the ward is really curious to see what the turn out will be. It kind of reminds me of the first Institute Academy Awards night, when it was very questionable about who would come. I hope that it will be the same story and we will have more then we predicted.

Well, I hope you all are safe through the fires.

-eldervonsowards

June 12

Dear family,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! or anniversary for Mom and Dad! That is exciting!

Crazy wild fires. I am surprised that no one has asked me about it. Didn't Ted hear about the Rodeo-Chedisky fire(s) all the way in Australia? That is just crazy.

Speaking of crazy! Ryan is already leaving?! Jared is marred?! To whom? So who's next? I remember hearing about Jamie being engaged. Who did she marry? Crazy, crazy. I told my former companion from Seattle, Elder Samuel Dyer Roisum, who just went home, to keep an eye out for an Elder Stock. Maybe they will meet.

After the baptism last week, this week was a little slower. We got to volunteer at National Heath Care (we go there every couple weeks. Our ward mission leader is the administrator), help a less-active member move, walk forever miles, and enjoy happinesses from Mesa! I brought the Sweet Cakes to district meeting and the district devoured both in like 7 seconds or less!! everyone loved it. Personally, I was most enthusiastic about the salsa! Last week we didn't have a car, so I have not been able to obtain the chips, or the mariachi band, to truly enjoy the salsa yet. So I have been saving it.

Missionary wise, we are funneling back down to square one and trying new things. We've moved on from just the Former Media Referrals to any and every name in the area book, which would be: former investigators, potential investigators, old progress record names, less-actives, actives, anyone! The problem I usually encounter is my own lack of omniscientness. I look at a record and see "Jack on Ridgecrest Dr." Where on earth is that?! Our maps are not user friendly and the GPS still doesn't show it to you properly. There are just SO MANY names and SO MANY roads, that it is impossible for me to wrap my mind around it all and be as effective as I possibly can in just a few months. Wow! Even dividing it up in 4ths is still out there. Elder Dangerfield and myself have come up with a system. We will select a route and along that route we will hit up every person, place, and thing that might be there, and if that all falls through, then we go tracting. I pray that this will be a success for us in finding new people to teach and to baptize.

-eldervonsowards

June 5

Dear Sows,

The baptism went very well. I will send pictures next week. After the mission president talked to the stake president, they decided that H should be baptized in Bristol but confirmed in her home ward. Yes, very confussing. So we made it happen and it went very well.

Her less active mother and non-member "step-father-person" were at the lesson on the plan of salvation, the baptism, and the confirmation. After the lesson we invited the whole family to meet with the Sisters in their ward (Watauga) and they said yes, so when we were at the other ward, we introduced the family to the sister missionaries, and they have set up to meet with each other. Bro H talked with the bishop's counselor in the Watauga ward, and he said they've considered putting the family on the ward rescue plan. I am excited for them.

We challenged Fred to come to the baptism and seek revelation to know if he should be baptized on the 18th of June. He said that he would. After the baptism, he said "the baptism didn't sway him." But he also told me about an expirience he had that morning while he was "drinking [his] coffee and smoking [his] cigarette." He was thinking about the whole thing and he asked God to "show me what sign I am suppose to feel when I do get my answer." He explained that he felt this "incredible" feeling. So now he "knows what to look for" when he gets his answer. I don't know, I guess the Lord does work in mysterious ways.

-eldervonsowards

May 29

Dear Familia,

We had a fantastic week!

Last Sunday, we got a member referral and on Thursday we contacted, taught and committed that very referral. She will be batized on Saturday (June 4th). Exciting! Her name is Haley. She is 12 years old. Haley is visiting her grandparents, the Hussys (Bro. Hussy is one of the bishop's counselors). They brought her to church last week and afterwards she talked to them about being baptized. We taught her on both Thursday and Saturday. Though on Sunday when Bro Hussy told the ward council, there were a few raised eye brows because technically, she lived in another ward in the stake. The Hussys were a little disgruntled about the ward council not wanting to baptize Haley in our ward. We asked the bishop what needed to happen and that we would do what it took to make it happen. He said to call the mission president and seek counsel from him (it being under his keys). President Griffin told us to go head and baptized her in Bristol and then transfer the records. Sister Hussy said, "Oo! Yes! I like this mission president!" We are really excited because this is in preparation for her going with the young women to girl's camp. Also her parents (less-active mother and non-member-mom's-boyfriend) asked if they could sit in on the lessons, and have made a special effort to be at the baptism.

The awesomeness of this is that originally she was committed for the 11th of June, but her parent were going out of town that week and asked if it could be moved to the 4th. Last

Tuesday, we were at a funeral at the church and afterwards the ward mission leader of the other ward that meets here, asked if Bristol ward was having any baptisms on June 4th, and if we did, we would put it in alinement with a child baptism for their ward. I told him that we didn't, but (in joking) we'd find someone to be baptized then. He kind of chuckled. Then I called him on Saturday and reminded him our conversation, and informed him of Haley's baptism. I would have loved to have seen his face as he said, "Wow, Elder!" Priceless!

District meeting went well last week. We got on a few different discussions (both doctrinal and social) that may have lasted a little bit longer then they should have. I have a great district.

Our 5th Sunday lesson went really well. I talked about invitation and elder Dangerfield spoke on agency. We committed everyone to set a date (before Aug. 1st) to invite someone to either:

Meet with the missionaries (us)
Come to church
Read the book of mormon
visit mormon.org
Come to the family history center
Come to wednesday night activities
Come to other activities (especially the missionary/member fireside on July 7th)

I hope it will be a big step in getting refferals. These last few weeks I have had allergies making my eyes puffy and watery and making my nose runny and sneezy. While I was giving the lesson I think a few of the members thought I was getting emotional about the topic of missionary work. Who knows, maybe that will work to our advantage and they will see that we are missionaries with our hearts in the work, and trust us with even more people to teach.

You've just got to love life!
-eldervonsowards

16 May 2011

Dear Mom (and everyone else),

Wow. When Sister Miller called me back and told me you and Dad were in a rollover, I was amazed. She said that both of you were alright, so I knew I didn't have to worry about you. I am so very thankful you are safe. That would be the talk of the mission if an elder lost his parents. I love you both SO much. It's times like this that really remind you that, hey, I have an eternal family. Even if death had taken one or both of my parents, I haven't lost them, I just can't see them for a little while. Wow! Who else has that hope?

I love you. I hope that you had a very merry birthday! I was going to have more people call, infact I did, but we went to a last minute training meeting down in Kingsport that took most of my day. The ward mission leader's wife called you around 9 or 10 in the morning (in AZ) but she said there was no answer and she didn't know how to say it on the answering machine. She said that they were going to call in the evening when her husband got home, but it was stake conference and I just didn't happen.

Stake conference. It was really a regional conference. 63 stakes and 1 district. Bishop Edgely spoke as well as a sister from the YW presidency. Elder Ballard and Pres. Eyring finish the conference. It was all about in today’s world we need to: hold our standards, strengthen our families through scripture, do missionary work, and remain optimistic. There was alot of training for missionaries.

Back to the training meeting in Kingsport on Friday. There they called me to be a district leader. Please pray for me in this calling. I have to admit that I am slightly flattered, but to tell you the truth I was hoping to make it by without having to shoulder that responsibility, but I guess the Lord had other plans. My hope now is that (since I've got the calling) to learn as much as I can from it, and to really encourage my district to accomplish much good together. Please pray for me and my district.

-eldervonsowards

Easter Sunday

Dearest all,

Thank you so much for the pictures! They were fun! It's crazy that Cory is leaving. I remember when we all went down for Al's blessing, probably a month before I got my mission call, Tas and Cory announced that he needed to go back into the service for career reasons. I remember my feelings that night. I didn't want Cory to have to leave before I could get endowed. I wanted to be in the Temple with my family. I remember even gaining a deeper commitment with myself to get my papers done and sent, which I was currently procrastinating. I even considered asking the Stake President if I could go to the temple before I got my call.

I was very happy that things worked out and he did not have to go at that time and was able to be there went I received my endowments. My entire mission, I have hoped for the day soon after my return from my mission that my entire family (except the little ones) would stand there in the Lord's house, together. That day will come. The Campbell family will be in my prayers.

The most eventful event this week happened to my district leader. They were out helping a member move and his companion found an empty throw-away Arrowhead water bottle. He tightened the cap and planned his moves carefully. Creeping along the wall toward the room were his compantion was, he decided he would scare the living day lights out of him. As he jumped into the room, he yelled, "HHHAAAA!!!!!" flicking the cap, causing the pressure in the bottle to projectile the cap directly into the district leaders eye! (with all credit to Elder Hansen, he was not aiming for the eye, he just wanted to scare him.) The member then came down to find the district leader at his sink washing his face. They rushed him to the ER and now he is required to remain homebound for five days and wear a gnarly metallic eye patch. The guy looks like a certified thug. President even had him call his parent to let them know what was going on. The parents actually thanked Elder Hansen for shooting him because they got to talk to him early. His eye is now full of blood.

Easter was good. They asked the Elder's quorum president to talk in Sacrament meeting. Let's just say he's the type who has a firey testimony. He is a lawyer and his talk showed it. He actually seemed very much like a protestant preacher. I turned to Elder Manoa and asked, "Are we in the right church?" but sure enough he was quoting from the Book of Mormon, and then I proceeded to stand up to give him an "AMEN PREACHER!!" but my companion stopped me. Don't get me wrong, it was a really good talk on the atonement of Jesus Christ. I just had to tease him about it in priesthood.

-eldervonsowards

18 April

Dear Family,

It sounds like yi'ns are having fun out there. Mom, I'm glad to hear that your solo went well. If only I could have heard it. Our district (6 elders) sang "When Jesus Christ was Baptized" at the baptism this past saturday. It went really well, the song and the baptism. A is awesome and ready to begin her new life.

A crazy thing happened. Part of our district is Marion VA. Two Sundays ago, a guy who is dating a member there, came to the branch and loved it. He then left for Memphis and loaded the Book of Mormon, and any and all articals he could get, onto his iPhone. Due to the fact that he was getting deported out in the Navy tomorrow, he called his girl friend and told her he wanted to meet with the missionaries before that. The amazed missionaries called the president and said "We've got a situational." He came back late Friday night and the next morning, Saturday, the elders and the district leader and his companion forewent teaching all 4 lessons in one day. Then they brought him to A's baptism, that night, where he made the final decision to get baptized. Due to the fact that the district leader helped teach him, he could not interview him, and due to the fact that this was last minute, and even late at night, the zone leaders could not get there in time. So President asked me to conduct the interview, even though I hold no leadership calling. Wow. That was nerve racking, though it went well. I got to learn from him in the interview. The interview made so much of an impact that he asked me to preform the conformation after the baptism, which was the very next day, Sunday or yesterday.

Crazy.

-eldervonsowards

April 10th

How dee?

So how is life on the western front?

This past week has been good. Spring is springing. This world I'm in is getting greener and hotter. Which only means that this world I'm is about to get coated with a thick layer of pollen, which means my sinuses and throat are about to get coated with a thick layer of alergynesses. Oh what a joy!

But it's true. It has been getting a lot hotter here and the bugs and flowers are making their début. That is crazy to hear about snow out there. I haven't sweated this much out tracting for months. Though it is very pretty all over this world. All sorts of colors and critters and smells. I keep experiencing sensory memory. All these sensations remind me of right before I left Crossville and when I first got to Rogersville. I hope this summer will be as good as the last.

So, A came to church yesterday. She is all set to be baptized this Saturday. We are excited. Saturday night, we watched the Joseph Smith movie with the S family. I think they enjoyed it.

We found a lady that has invented a flashlight thingy and is like a specific UV number light that penetrates into your flesh and stimulates energy to cause healing. She showed it to us and I thought, "Wow, this is like something out of star trek or something!" We are going back tomorrow.

-eldervonsowards

April 3rd

Dear Familia,

Well, that is way exciting that there is at least one more little niece running around in coming years. Fun, fun! I'm sad that they will be born before I get home, but, oh well.

Conference was pretty tight. I was sad that we did not get to hear Elder Hales speak. I always enjoy his talks. What they need to do is add his talk as a "bonus feature" or "deleted talk" in the Ensign next month. That would be pretty tight. I really enjoyed President Monson's talk, but I [missionaries] always feel left out when anyone talks about temple attendance.

You asked about if any one did any pranks [for April 1st]. A few week ago my companion called the sisters in the next area and told them that he was being emergency transfered because of something they did and that he was willing to take the bullet. So when they called the zone leaders the ZLs played along and said that the elder was being mission transfered to Nashville because of them. Then the rumor spread like wildfire through the entire mission that Elder Manoa was going to Nashville.

The calls have finally stopped coming in, but it got me thinking. If I was offered a chance to get mission transfered, I think I'd take it. One, it would be really cool to see new places and to see how the two missions compare. Two, to get a clean slate. and three, (if the offer was the Nashville mission) I would have a temple to attend (or in this case the offer could be any mission with a temple). Did any of my siblings get to serve in a mission with a temple? Or did they get to attend any temple while on their mission?

So A did get to attend all four sessions of conference. She enjoyed it a lot. B dropped us. He said, "The Good Lord layed it upon my heart to remain Baptist BECAUSE it is what I grew up with." I don't know. To me that does not make any sense. I maybe could understand if he said "Because it's truth" or something that could make sense, but simply because its what you are use to? Who am I to argue about the way somone else chooses to live their own life. All I can do is inform and invite. I know that God told me that the Book of Mormon is truth and I know it by the gift and power of God. I also know that truth is eternal and God can not lie, so therefore, He will not tell two people differently on the same subject.

Ever since I became a missionary, whenever I watch conference I am always thinking something like "Man! If only So N. So was here to listen to that talk," or, "Hey, they are talking about the question that Whats R. Face had, if only she was here to hear it." Is that judgmental? I mean is that me seeing motes in people's eyes and not looking at my own? We were talking about this a few weeks ago. What defines righteous judgment?

eldervonsowards

March 27

Dear familia,

So this last week was slow and fast, but not. I'm not sure. We had a good week.

Last week I mentioned Brian. We were going to teach him on Tuesday but he got in a car accident. So we went and grabbed a member and drove him around doing errands and stuff. We went back Saturday night and tried to teach him. He is a nice guy he just loves to talk. We are never able to get a full lesson in. We think he's not really interested in learning and just interested in the attention of people coming over. He didn't come to church this week because he was sore from the accident. We will see about him.

In my last email I also talked about the oldest daughter of the brother who's daughters were baptized a few weeks ago. We have been able to teach her even more. Friday night we invited her to be baptized on the 16th of April and she accepted the invitation. She came to church yesterday. I think she liked it. We are meeting with her again tomorrow. I am excited for her. Transfers are a week from Wednesday and I hope I don't get transferred because the baptismal date is after that and I don't want to miss it.

That is really cool that you had Alex over for dinner with the missionaries. That is always one of the best ways to give a referral. Though I know what it is like for that elder. Some times when members have friends over for dinner you are unsure how to approach, or some times how the member wants you to approach. There have been times when I've gone ahead and taught the person and I felt the member felt I went too far and then there have been different times when we didn't push it and just shared a simple thought and I felt that the member was disseminated in us for not trying to teach more. I always love it when the friend is the one who starts asking to questions and then it is obvious to both member and missionary where to go. So the best way to do that is for the member to before hand to get the friend thinking and wanting to ask questions. How to do that? I've been trying to figure that out for the last 15 months. What are your thoughts?

-eldervonsowards

March 20

Dear People of Earth,

This week was good. The Bristol Motor Speedway drew in tons of NASCAR fans with their RVs and campers. We were driving up to Abingdon VA for P-day and we must have past like 13 different RVs/campers and who knows how many out of state licenses evacuating out of town after the final race of the week end last night. It got me thinking about if and how many members of the church were in town for the race and we didn't even know it. They deffinitely didn't come to church.

So apart from that this week was cool. Our most progressing investigator is Bryan. He's a cool guy. He came to church these last 2 weeks. We're also trying to teach the oldest daughter of the brother who's daughters were baptized last week. She is about 20. Apart from that there is at least 7 individuals that we are on like the verge of teaching but not quite yet.

love brownies,
eldervonsowards

Hello March 13

Dear Family,

How is all going in the desert? The begining of this week it snowed and by the end of the week it was just a tad too warm.

We had the baptisms of H(11), M (10), and W(9) S. on Saturday. It was wonderful. I hadn't seen one of my own investigators baptized in like 8 months, back in Rogersville, and on Saturday, I saw three. This was another part-member family, a result of the Rescue. Wow. The gospel really does bless families. It was a wonderful experience.

We went over to their house for dinner that evening and gave a lesson. On the way home we were listening to an arrangement of "Joy to the World" from the "Reflections of Christ" album. It got me thinking about the birth of Jesus Christ. The shepherds and the wise men and even Marry and Joseph really had no idea as to who this baby boy was and what his destiny would be. They had a general idea but in comparison, they really had no clue. As I was thinking about it, the S. family meshed into the thought. Wow. I saw in a glimpse that none of us, not me or Elder Manoa, the S's, or whoever, really know the destiny of God's plans for this wonderful family. We have a general idea, but really in comparison, nothing. This truly is a "dawn of redeeming grace" for this family. Wow.

This week we also had a member referral family come to church. They got to witness the confirmations of the girls. We are excited to meet with them on Thursday.

I love the Gospel so much.

-eldervonsowards

March 6th - Week of

Dear All,

This week went fast at times and slow in others.

There are going to be three baptisms this Saturday, three girls from a returning-to-activity family. We are very excited!

So, Saturday night, we went out to invite this rescue family to be taught. The family is actually cousins to the member that we went out with. We plugged the address into his GPS and it took us to this trailer park along the TN/VA boarder. So we drove around the park trying to see the numbers. We came full circle and stopped for a minute to figure out what to do. The member turned off his lights so that he wasn't shining them into the house in front of us. Then we start driving again and a truck started following us, so we pull over to the side so see if the driver could help us. This guy was crazy! He got out and started demanding to know what we were doing. The member told him that we were with a church looking for his cousin.

"Your cousin don't live here! Let me see your license!"

"Are you a cop? I don't have to show you my license."

"This is private property and you'd better show me your lisence! Why did you turn off your lights!?!"

"Because we didn't want to be shining them into that house. Would you like us to leave?"

"You ain't go'in' no wheres! I've got you blocked in! We're going to wait till the law gets here!"

So our member said, "Forget this" and we drove off the property and this crazy guy starts chasing us! Like in hot pursuit. We're probably going 60-70 mph down this dark country road with this guy two feet from our bumper! "Call 911, man! This guy is crazy!" So I called 911. First, I got TN and they said, "You're in VA." So they transferred me to VA, then VA sent me back to TN, then they transfer me to the county instead of the city. Finally, after they get my name, address, phone number, ss#, and former companion's mother's maiden name, the guy finally turned around and heads off. It's a good thing we weren't in an actual emergency, or we would have been dead.

-eldervonsowards

End of Feb 2011

Dear familia,

Yes. Thank you so much for the valentine's day package. It kept slipping my mind these last two weeks every time I email. Sorry. And thank you!

I'm glad to hear that the play worked out in the end and that it was well attended. I hope that every one enjoyed themselves. And I also hope that this year's videoing part works out better then the last video.

So is Mom still in young woman's on top of cub scouts? That sounds stressful in it's self. That was one thing that was different out here, in all my areas they would hold cub scouts on wednesday nights along with all the other activities. I thought that that was discouraged but I guess it doesn't really matter. It makes sense out here because everyone has to drive into town so just make one trip. Where as in Mesa it would be to big deal to take go to the church several times a week. Different world, same church.

Who of my friends in Mesa could they teach? I'll think about that. Though last night while I was praying a guy I worked with at Geronimo came to mind. John Harold (sadly I am second guessing his last name, I've done that with alot of people lately, It's been a while). I gave him a Book of Mormon when I left. You could find him on my facebook. He lives in Tucson. He's who comes to mind.

So Elder Thonpson left Bristol and now I an serving with Elder Manoa. Elder Manoa is a Tongan from California. He's pretty fun, though he think's I'm out of my mind. We were going to this meal appointment that I had only been to once before. So we get to the street and I'm like "that looks like the house" he's like "looks like? are you sure dog?" I say "no. but I think it's it." So we go up to it and this random girl walks out. So we just teach them as if we were just tracting. As we walked away he was like "man dog! you got the wrong house!" we got a good laugh about it. He doesn't trust my directions now.

-eldervonsowards

21 Feb 2011

Dear people,

Well that is some pretty exciting news about Tasanee. Twins? wow! I didn't know our family could do that... I guess you never know. A member yesterday related a story from his mission where they were teaching this couple that had no kids. They loved the message that the missionaries shared and came to church. They went over there after to see how they liked it and they said that they liked it but they felt uncomfortable being in a church that was SO family oriented and not having any kids themselves. The couple shared with them that they were told by doctors that they would not be able to ever have kids. Then this member boldly said that the Lord had children waiting to be born into their family but would not give this family any children until they accepted and unbraced the gospel and were baptized. The family was baptized and then had twins, shortly followed by triplets.

This week we got the chance to start teaching a less active family. only the parents had been baptized but their 9, 10, and 11 year old girls had not. We invited them to be baptized and they said that they wanted to. The family came to church yesterday and loved it. I will let you know what day they will be baptized. We had planned for March 5th but it looks like that will be moved.

I hope and pray that the Come to Lehi will be as awesome as years past if that better!

-eldervonsowards

Feb 13

D-ear familia,

The last 2 weeks we wasted our time on preparation day and we did not get around to emailing, so we took some very brief time out of proselyting time to shoot our weekly president report email out. We went spelunking with a member 2 weeks ago. I attached some pictures from it. It was pretty fun but shouldn't have been a priority. Last week we had a zone activity and wasted time there too. I am starting to consider p-days my least favorite days of the week. I always just feel so worldly on Mondays.

 

This last week was pretty good. We met this girl (13) that wants to be baptized so we invited her to be baptized on March 5th. The only thing is we feel that she is looking at it as a baptism in general and not a baptism into Christ's restored Church. I'm sure similar situations happen like this. The way the conversation went was that she said that she had been saved but still needed to get baptized and that the only reason she hadn't yet was because her church hadn't had any baptismal services. Then I felt we would invite her and said "we will you be baptized and follow the example of Jesus Christ?" she said "what?" then I felt the spirit slap his own forehead and I found myself saying "we will be holding a baptismal service on March 5th, will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that date?" she checked her calendar and said "I'm open, I will." we went on and talked about proper authority and apostasy, but I'm still not sure what her understanding of it is. She still went to her church yesterday. If it was the spirit telling me to say those thing then there is an answer it this predicament. I went to church yesterday praying for God to teach me what to do, he told me too fast. I am confident that things will work out as I follow the spirit's guidance. Please pray for Tamia and Elder Thompson and me.

 

-eldervonsowards

 

Pictures: guy in red is brother harris, the member

guy in camo is elder thompson (the one being hold up side down)

Jan 23

Dearest dears,

I hope is going awesome in your neck of the woods. This morning we woke up with a very thin layer for snow over the world but it is already pretty much gone.

We had an awesome member referral this week. A member brought us over to her friend Will's house (actually both her and Will came and got us) . We taught him and he came to church yesterday. He has had a really troubling past and is in need of a lot of gospel healing. He says that he really wants to know the truth and what he needs to do. I am really excited to work with him even more. We are going to his place tomorrow evening for dinner and a lesson. We even are teaching his neighbor and she was going to come to church too but she had an extreemety in the family happen.

Another awesome investigator we met this week is Sarah. Sarah is a non-denominational Christian. Her husband Paul is an agnostic. We tracted into her (on Tuesday) and at first she was disinterested but then we got talking and she got really into it. She committed herself to come to church after we explained how our services and beliefs were. She said at the end that our church sounds a lot like what she has been looking for. We went back on Friday and she showed that she had been thinking a lot about the church and even the potential of joining it. We got to talk to Paul and he had a few great question, though alot of them were the same questions she asked on the first visit. He was very intrigued with our perspective on faith, hell, 3 degrees of glory and stuff like that. They both accepted a soft commitment (even though he said that he was not really interested in learning) and she was planning to come to church. She didn't and when we called Sunday afternoon she said that the night before he got really sick and she needed to stay home and take care of her husband. We are going over there with the ward mission leader on Thursday. I am way excited to continue teaching them.

We are also helping a less active quit smoking. He thus far has not smoked since Saturday.

Last week after I emailed I was browsing Mormon.org and found Joan Sowards's profile. It was really cool to find My mothers profile and to read why she's a mormon.

So I finished reading Genesis and started reading Exodus this week. I love the story of Moses. It makes me want to watch Prince of Egypt. One thing that really stands out to me as I read it is the idea of Heavenly Father, a true God, vs Pharaoh, a false god, and the other idols of Egypt. It shows how the things of the world truly are worthless and that God will always win and that with out God we are literally nothing at all. I know that thinking you can do missionary work (or any other kind of work) without seeking the Lords help is literally just as worthless as Pharaoh thinking he could best the Lord God of Israel. It is of nothing.

-eldervonsowards

Jan 16 2011

*Disclaimer: The Message Von sent on the 4th literally only said Happy New Year


Dear Family,

did you guys not get the email were I sayed happy new year? that would have been on the 4th. I didn't really have anything to say. I guess I just wasn't in the mood. Last week South Pittsburg (and pretty much the rest of the mission) was covered with snow. It came in sunday night (the sunday of the CES fireside with elder christopherson) it was something like 6 or 7 inches and every thing shut down. We still got out and worked though, we just had to walk. Then that wednesday I got transfered. There were a couple areas that were unable to make it to the meeting due to blizards. It was different.

So now I am no longer with elder march and no longer in an area that covers 3, states only 2. I left south Pittsburg and am now serving in Bristol. Bristol is a city right on the virgina/tenessee boarder. Last week they annoinced and this week was the begining of a ward split. The ward use to cover abingdon virgina but now they are thier own ward, still in the same building. It's pretty cool.

well I'm glad to hear that you are getting over your illnesses.

love,
eldervonsowards