The Reason For The Season

Hello family and friends!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!! Man do I love the Christmas season!!!! It's the best. I'm so excited I get to see all of
you!!!!!!!! I love all of you!!!!!!! I don't know where I will be skyping from but I will skype off of Elder Hebdon's iPad because his has sound.  The sound on mine doesn't work- I don't know why.  I will be skyping you guys at 6:30 my time which is 4:30 your time. Hopefully you can plan around that!!! It will be on Christmas Day.  I'm
hoping the whole family can Skype.  If not, that's alright but I do want it all to go smoothly.  I'm glad you will send a lot of pictures of the wedding.  I'll get to see all the familiar faces of the Quinn family and others!!!!

Yo Austin you dog!!!!!!! Camille is a homie.  She straight hooked it up for you on your first date!!!! Plus girls in Arizona and Utah are beautiful!!!!!!!  That was so nice of her to do that!!!  Not only that but you saw Star Wars 7 two times!!!!!!!!! AAAAAGGGGGHHHH  I can't believe that they finally made a Star Wars movie and it just so happens to come out while I'm serving a mission.  NO SPOILERS!!!!!!!

Well anyways, this week we went caroling down in Pittsburgh and that was so much fun.  We went to 2 hospitals and sang in 1 old folks home. I was able to talk with someone whose name was Jeff.  He had just gotten out of surgery when we arrived and began to sing throughout the hospital.  I was able to hear his story. Like I said he came out surgery which was a leg operation (he may still need to have it amputated) so he was scared and telling me he didn't want to lose his leg. I felt the Spirit tell me to tell him that whatever happens he was going to be ok.  He thanked us for singing to him and brightening his day.  Service is one of the greatest things we can do to be able to come closer to Heavenly Father. It was something very simple for me to sing and talk with him by the Spirit but it meant the world to him to have us visit and sing to him.  After caroling we had a white elephant exchange.  I brought a Shake weight and I ended up with the gift I brought.  How absurd is a shake weight?!  Then the next day it was just Elder Hebdon and I and we went caroling at the Kane Regional Hospital in McKeesport. I played the piano and sang for all the residents there.  At first there were only 2 or 3 people but by the end there were 15-20 residents gathered in the room listening!  I couldn't believe it when I turned around the whole room was filled!!!  Afterwards, I was able to sit down with a few and hear about their lives and what trials they have gone through as well as the happy moments!!!! That was the best.  If you ever go caroling or sing in a hospital, don't just sing and then leave but sit down with the people and have them talk about themselves.  They are more than willing and they love that!!!!!!!  So I talked to 4 older women and they told me to tell you "tell them they raised a talented, sweet, good looking, gentleman."   Congrats mom and dad your work paid off!  haha  Besides the caroling, not to much happened.  We do have videos of the caroling thanks to my Zone Leader, Elder Wadsworth.  He made all the recordings so you can thank him.  I'll send them in another email- there's quite a few. 

I love you all.  Talk to you on Friday at 4:30!  Love you!!!!!!!!! Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon

No pain... No game!

Helloooooo family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm glad you all enjoy my creative subjects.  I work hard on those and am trying to be creative and clever with them.  Wow Austin Happy birthday!!!!!!!! Big 16!!!!!!!! You know what that means?  I'm gonna send a video of me singing happy birthday to you!!!!!  I'll try and be creative with these as well.  Mom I know you were the first one I did this for so I'll give you a really good one next year hahahaha!!!!!! Austin,  I'm glad you had fun with your friends.  I'm so sad I couldn't be there for it.  I really do miss you!!! I wish we could go back to old times where it was you and me playing together.  I want us to play like we used to.  Remember when we'd pretned we were Jedis or army guys?  Man I miss those days!! I'm so glad that my Heavenly Father loved me so much that he gave me a little brother to play with, to laugh with, and to love!!! I hope you see and recognize that too!!!!! I want to be your buddy just like old times... Wow. When I wrote "buddy" just now I started crying...I love you Austin I really do!!! I can't wait to see you when we FaceTime or Skype.  I just want to see my little brother again! Oh my gosh I can't stop crying.  I've been crying for the past 15 minuets- I've been trying to stop but nothing's working. I know that's the spirit testifying to me that families are important and that the relationships you build with your family is so important.  Alright enough of that. hahaha

Wow Cantwell's wedding and then Paul's wedding. I am gonna need some more pictures hahaha!!!!!!!!! I always ask for pictures and it is because I love getting them of you guys.  I love sending pictures to let you know where I'm at and what I'm up too!!! Yea mom I love LDS.org.  Then again, that's all I can get onto so it's not like I have a selection I can choose from haha!!! Guess what you guys?  Star Wars 7 plays in theaters in 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!  Brother Haroldsen, one of the members of the branch, keeps rubbing it in because he's a Star Wars fan too and he gets to go see it!!! So he keeps torturing me and telling me how many days left till it comes out.  He's a great guy and he is really funny.  

Oh how cool that you're doing Plan Of Salvation shirts.  That's a neat way to do missionary work! Oh man the football banquet- that's so weird that Coach Bradley isn't the coach anymore!  That means Tyler has been home a year now!  What a changes a year makes huh?  

So this week has been pretty awesome.  So when I played the piano and sang at the same time at Zone Conference this past week it went really well.  With the pointers from Sister Macbeth, it went a lot smoother and I could definitely feel the spirit as I was singing.  I don't get as nervous anymore either. l will admit that I was still nervous but not as nervous as I used to get.  I got a lot of compliments. President Johnson thanked me and said he was going to use me more often!!!!!  That was exciting to hear!!!  We got to play basketball at the church with a few less actives.  At first I felt like an idiot playing.  I still don't know how to play or what to do so they just told me to get rebounds.  I can jump that's what I did.  My companion is 6'3 and he got a lot.  I feel so lost in the game of basketball.  I really wish I had wanted to learn how to play when I was younger.  I was all about soccer.  I'm athletic so not knowing what to do is very frustrating!  At the end I just tried having fun and doing what seemed "normal" so it wasn't all bad.  I did wear my knee sleeve and my ankle brace (remember when I sprained it in Olean?).  It hurts when I play on it sometimes but that's normal for a sprain.  I just can't stop getting hurt! Hahahaha!!!!!!!! I just need to have a talk with Heavenly Father and ask Him to help me to stop getting injured!!!  lol  That guy definitely has a sense of humor!!!  This week we also had our branch Christmas party.  We had a few less actives's show up that haven't been to church in a long while.  That same night Brother Punjack and I had our pizza eating competition.  Let me tell you that that was fun and painful at the same time!!!!  We each had 8 pieces of pizza and every time we finished a slice we had to do 20 push ups.  So 8X20=160 push ups.

 As you can tell in the picture, my face doesn't look too happy or excited at the end!!!!! Hahahaha Brother Punjack is an ex-marine and a real competitor.  He challenged me to this competition and I agreed.  What's crazy is that he always wins.  This time was different!  I was the first Elder to tie him.  I didn't win but neither did he!  We literally finished at the exact same time.  He finished his last piece of pizza before me but I busted out the push ups at the end and we both finished at the same time.  It only took 11 minuets to accomplish all of that!!!!! I was in pain and my stomach didn't feel too good either but brother Punjack said that I was the closest Elder to beating him or to even come close! So I was pretty excited to hear that!

Elder "H"  leaves at the end of the month and is getting trunky.  I am doing the best I can to stay obedient during this hard situation. Yes I got the package.  Thanks mom and dad I really appreciate it!!!!!!! I love the gloves but it's not even cold here!!!!! Yesterday it was 71 degrees.  The lowest it has gotten here in McKeesport has been high 40's.  It isn't getting cold; in fact, it's warming up!!!!!!!!!!!  I've talked with people and they've said this has been the most bizarre weather they've ever seen!?!  It is never this warm this time of year.  Maybe I'm just good luck! hahaha  It's crazy that I'm allowed to wear shorts in December!!!!!!!  I did enjoy the cards you sent to hand out to people.  No I haven't played anymore football. I did see one of the guys I played with at the turkey bowl at Wendy's.  He worked there and guess what?!?!?!?! He even called me Gronk!!!!!!! How cool is that!!????  I was so pumped when he remembered me!!!!  No I don't remember what Ty said to the mailman.  What would he say??! I do need a few things:  1. scripture tabs.  I am going to start using my hard copy scriptures more instead of my iPad.  2. Shorts.  I have enough shirts but I only have 3 shorts and one pair doesn't have pockets.  3. Japanese pens.  The ones you got Ty for his mission and also for me! I know I lost them but if you could, could you send me those?!

I hope you all have a fantastic week.  I love you.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!

Elder Gronkowski

The Parable of the Talents

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I'm writing this so late.  We came back from a P-day of fun and adventure!!!! We went to the Carnegie Science Center with one of the service missionaries and it was soooo cool!!!!!! I got to see C3P0 and R2D2 also play basketball against a robot arm and lose in air hockey against another robot arm.  So you could say it was a time of disappointment hahaha!!!! We got to go in a submarine and man, I got nothing to complain about!  They had to live in this tiny submarine 80 days.  It was crammed. I mean not only were their sleeping quarters just a cot but the whole submarine was so small the kitchen they had consisted of a stove and a small pantry and that was it!!!!!!!!

Let me tell you how much of a blessing it is that I don't have to worry about school!!!!!!! No finals.  No teachers.  No homework.  Life as a missionary is truly a blessing! Sure I can't do a lot of things but there's a lot of things I don't miss-like taking finals! Hahahaha Sorry Tyler and Austin but I'm living the good life!!!! Wow, Austin you're gonna be 16!  You are gonna be a Priest.  Go on dates man.  I thought I was gonna go on a date every week when I turned 16 but that didn't happen!!!!! I doubt you'll do that as you seem super focused on football which is a blessing.  I think I was just girl crazy hahaha!!!! Speaking of girls, Elder Cantwell's getting married!?!?!  Jeez everybody's getting married. I better not come home and find out everyone's married- I'll be mad!!!!!!!!  I'm happy for Cantwell.  He was a very nice, funny guy when we met up with him and his mom in Utah.  Such a nice family!!!!!  Dad, I laughed when you threw in the joke about BYU and telling me the "bad" news because I don't like them. hahahaha That was good!!!!! However, Elder Richens, my MTC companion, is a die-hard BYU fanatic and he spent an hour trying to convince me to go to BYU instead of BYU-I. From the sports, to the school, to the dorms, you name it.  He was trying so hard to convince me.  I told him I would send in an application and if they accepted me I would go but if I didn't get in, then I was done with them.  So he was happy that I agreed!!!!!!!

I bet the Ward Christmas party was a lot of fun.  Yes Dad, I remember Sister Bayless.  I remember teaching her.  That was my first real missionary experience.  I wish I would have been a better home teacher. And I do remember Justin. That's awesome that he's looking to go on a mission. I wasn't quite sure what his future plans were.  I am happy to hear he wants to do that!!!!!!! Mom, I love that you shared the story of Joan of Arc in your email.  She really was an amazing woman.  She fought and died for the Lord and was willing to stand against the world and its practices while she fought against England.  She truly was devoted to God and following His will. Also mom, I've always believed you to be so strong. I remember one time I told you (if you remember this let me know) that you had a spirit like Emma Smith. I remember we were reading in Doctrine & Covenants that year.  I remember learning about what a wonderful woman she was.  I just pictured you as Emma Smith.  You didn't go through the same trials she did but she didn't go through some of the trials you did. You were always willing to put the Lord first.  No matter what trial you had or what you were going through, you were always so strong and had a testimony that everything would be okay in the end. You have endured so many things and it's because of your faith and love for the Savior you were able to push through those trials!!!!  Sorry Dad, I'm leaving you out.  You've been a great influence on me as well!  What a wonderful example you both have been to me! I don't know how you did it but you did!!!!!!!  You weren't perfect (which is ok) because none of us can be but you both tried so hard to be!!!!!!  You truly are the best parents I can ask for.  I now see much you sacrificed for all of us 4 boys.  The selflessness that I wasn't able to see when I was younger and living at home, I see now.  You could've done so many things you wanted but instead you wanted to do what we did.  I love you both sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!  I wanted you to know that. 

So tomorrow (Tuesday) in Zone Conference (this is where a lot of missionaries go for a meeting to learn how to become better missionaries than they are now), I will be playing the piano and singing the song, "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly."  I've been practicing the piano and my singing.  I pray that it will go how I want it.  I really felt the spirit tell me that I should play this song.  It touched me and I want it to touch others!!! I also sang in the McKeesport Branch Choir along with the Branch President.  Tonight Sister Macbeth asked if I would sing in a male quartet and I said yes!!!!!!! I'm so excited that I am still able to exercise my talents.  I am truly happy that I am increasing my talents and obtaining new ones!!!! I've learned that- like in the parable of the talents- we should practice our talents and increase them instead of hiding them or being embarrassed by them.  We need to exercise them!!!!  No one talent is greater than the other.  God has  given us all different abilities and skills and if we don't exercise them, they will shrink.  But if we do exercise them we can use them and be as a lighthouse upon a hill and let our talents and abilities shine.  We increase our talents not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of others!!!!! I have a testimony of this.  I have a testimony that God knows each and every one of us and because He knows us He will bless us.  He will give us what we need so that we may grow spiritually and He is also there to uplift us.  As we are blessed and recognize his hand in our lives, we are to stand as witnesses of Him!!! He is there for us.  He is listening.  He does care.  I KNOW THIS!!!!!!  Have a great week.  Allow Jesus Christ to enter into your heart so that during the week He can guide you through the Holy Ghost.  I love you all.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Gronk the Baboon

From Baboon to GRONK!

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!

This week was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! I tried this week to help my companion to be more obedient.  I'm working on it by doing baby steps because I feel like if I tell him everything he needs to change it will be more destructive than
constructive.  I'm working on the little things.  I'm trying to help him use time more wisely so we aren't just sitting around.  There's enough work to do as a missionary where you shouldn't be sitting around. I tried telling him to not do some things but then he got mad at me and didn't say anything to me for a while.  I'm working on keeping myself obedient.  I have 45 days to help him change before he goes home so hopefully he will.  I really do love him and I just want to see him do better.  Elder Hebdon  and I get along really well.  If you have unity in your companionship, that is what makes it good!!!!! So I'm glad that he and I are tight!!!

That is so cool Hannah got to stay with the family over the Thanksgiving break.  I bet Hannah is a homie!!!!!! If she makes Tyler happy she makes me happy!!! You hear that Hannah?  You have my seal of approval!!!! hahaha  She sounds like a lotta fun.   Man let me tell you, Austin is growing.  He is way taller than you now mom!!!!!!  He may be taller and bigger than me when I get home- that'll make me mad!!!!!!! But I'll be more spiritual. hahahaha jk lol!!!!!!!!

This week was sooo much fun.  Thanksgiving was a blast- so much fun!!!!!!!!  We hate dinner at one of our member's houses, the "G's.".  Sister "G" invited a bunch of people so we got to talk to a lot of people and eat too.  I liked that. hahaha!!!!!!! Her husband got up at 2 o'clock in the morning to begin making the food.  He put a lot of work into it so I made sure to personally thank him and tell him how much I enjoyed the meal. Let me tell you though, the best was the turkey bowl.  We showed up to this high school field and there was a crowd of athletic, black people and man were they ready to play! I was a little nervous cause I didn't want to look like a fool so I was straight-faced and serious walking onto the field. I'm not kidding you when I say that everyone playing was black, except for me and  Elder Hebdon.  There were at least 50-60 people there and we were the only white guys!!!!!!!  Well, when it was time to pick teams I thought yea, we aren't even gonna play. Then all of a sudden one guy looks and points at me and says "You."  I thought he must be talking to someone else.  But then he says "Yeah, you!"  So I got my game face on and was ready to play!!!!! So we start out on offense and someone on my team says, "someone needs to play tight end."  I was at receiver but they chose me to go play tight end.  Well, we got a touchdown in a few plays.  Then we were on defense.  I was guarding this one guy who was pretty small but fast,  Anyways, the other team hikes the ball and does a post route.  The quarterback threw it to the guy I was guarding but guess what!?!?!?  Yo boy, Elder Baboon, came in and got he interception!  It was the first play on defense!!!!!!!! WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As soon as I got the ball, all the black people immediately started to hoop 'n holler and scream "OHHHHHHHH" "OMG" "WOAH!!!!!!!" They were literally freaking out!!!!!!  They were still hollerin' as I was running down the field to score the touchdown!  So not only did I get the interception but I ran it back for the touchdown!!!!!!!!!!!!  YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt on top of the world!!!!!!!!!!! Then the black guys started calling me Gronkowski- you know, Rob Gronkowski from the Patriots.  They were all making comments like  "YOOOOOO GRONK" and "My boy Gronkowski!" and "We got GRONK!!!!!" Hahaha They were loving me- they all came up and swarmed me.  It was sooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!! They said, "Man I didn't know that white missionaries could play!!!!!" So for the whole turkey bowl game they were putting me in different plays and I was getting thrown to!!!!!  I caught a few more balls but that first play made me famous!!!!!!! I was also praying to the Lord (with real intent) that I wouldn't get injured. I didn't.  Man do those guys play rough.  I woke up the next morning with aches and pains!!!!!! The best part of it all though is that if I'm in that area of McKeesport and some of the guys that were at the game see me, they still call me GRONK!!!!!!!!!!  Hahahahaha They will either honk their horn or yell out the window, "Yo.  It's GRONK!!!!!"  So far on my mission I've been a baboon, an ape and now a Gronk. hahahahaha I
love it!!!!! A different nickname in every area!!!! 

Thank you so much for the pictures. I really appreciate that! It means the world to me!!! Our investigators "D" and "T" weren't at church this Sunday.  We can't go see them at their house until the bug problem is gone.  One of the new converts picked them up last week and "D" asked for money.  The convert is such a loving and humble man so he bought them some food.  So I need to figure out what to do to help them.  They really want to be close to God but will have to see what happens with them.

Well this week we didn't see very many people to teach because of the holidays.  The Christmas initiative for this year is "The Savior Is Born."  I am super excited for that!!!!!!! That's pretty much it.  Take care.  Have a great week.  Remember who you are and what you stand for.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

The Walking Dead

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Austin I'm so glad you wrote me! You're a true brother!!!!!!!! Man, I can't wait to see you in 2 years- you're probably going to get super big!!!!!!!! I'm trying in the mission. I get up almost every morning and work out but I don't see results but I'm gonna keep doing it hahaha!!!!!!! I can't believe footballs over, that's crazy.  Is it a lot different now than what it used to be? I feel like it would be different with Coach Dalton replacing coach Bradley. So, are you going to do any other sport or are you just going to do football!?  You got Star Wars Battlefront 2 on the computer? That's sick!!!!!! I'm glad you won't let
it interfere with your goals.  To be honest, I think gaming took a lot out of my life and I hope that I don't go home and get sucked back in.  There is a new Star Wars Battlefront coming out (or maybe it already did) but the people who made Battlefield are making this Star Wars video game- that's going to be sick!!!!!!!!!

Now you asked what my favorite thing is about the mission.  Well, my favorite thing about the mission is when you teach people the Gospel of Jesus Christ and you literally watch as it changes their life for the better.  I have begun to recognize that the gospel is here to help us.  It is not to get in our way and make our life harder but to make it better!!!!!!! I love seeing that on my mission.  I also love talking to people and learning what's happening in their life.  I also love learning more in the scriptures as I study them and really ponder them.  There really is so much to learn from the scriptures.  The interesting thing about the gospel is that it takes a lifetime of study and one still can't comprehend it all in this life but yet it's so simple a child can understand how incredible the gospel is!!!!!! hahaha

Something that has helped me on my mission is that I realized I don't have to be the best scriptorian or the smartest elder or the best teacher.  If I am trying my hardest, it's okay.  We can't achieve perfection in this life and God understands that. One talk that really helped me overcome this trial is by Neil L. Anderson.  It's called "You Know Enough." He talks about when he was preparing for a mission and he was afraid he wouldn't measure up to the expectations that everyone had for him. He would say that he was not that highest baptizing missionary or the best teacher.  He would ask himself, "How will I ever measure up?"  Well the Lord answered Elder Anderson's question by telling him "You're right.  You don't know everything BUT... you know enough."  After reading that talk recently, my prayers were answered and the Spirit overcme me.  It comforted me and brought peace to my soul.  That's another thing I love about the mission- it not only changes others, it's changing me.  My nature is being changed to where it will affect me for rest of my life!!!!!!!! How amazing is that?????!!!!!!!!!!!  I Love you Austin!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright down to the nitty gritty part. hahaha Mom I hope to try and answer all of your questions.  ell my new companion is Elder Hebdon and he has been out about as long as Elder Harper.  He's a good companion.  We have fun and get along really well. My address is 1617 Delaware Ave. McKeesport, PA.  I like to describe McKeesport as this... Gangsters
paradise!!!!!!  It's a very sketchy place!!!!! hahaha But I'm not scared.  The lord is on our side. I know he will protect us from danger!!!!!!!  There are a few areas that are nice but we are mainly working in the ghetto!!!!!! This is also a pretty dangerous town.  Friday night we were driving home and we saw a dead body laying in the middle of the road.  We couldn't take a picture because the police were there.  I'm pretty sure he or she was murdered... so that was a nice welcome to the area!!! Hahahaha  Well another pretty crazy thing that happened was when we contacted some investigators "D" and "T."  They're black (like everyone else in McKeesport).  We walked into their pretty nasty apartment.   I hadn't noticed anything yet so it didn't bother me.  So that was the first time I had met them.  It was Elder
Hebdon's second time.  We were teaching them the restoration and it was going great.  Then all of a sudden I spotted something moving on the carpet- it was a nasty bug.  Then through the remainder of the lesson I'm looking around and I notice bugs crawling all around the apartment.  No joke- they were everywhere!!!!!!!!!  As I notice they are everywhere, I look on the couch and there are some crawling where I am I'm sitting!  I say a prayer in my heart because we were almost finished with the lesson.  Elder Hebdon was wanting to get out of there as well. So we say the closing prayer and during the prayer I open my eyes to see a bug on me!!!!!!!!  All they have to do is lay eggs.  I flick it off, praying that it didn't drop any eggs and then we leave quickly.  We drive straight back home, take off our clothes and put them in
the dryer to kill the eggs or any bugs remaining.  Luckily we didn't see any on each other but will keep an eye out.  We thought the bugs were bed bugs.  If you ever meet a bed bug, don't- I repeat don't- stay in that apartment/place because they will follow you home and infest your whole apartment.  The elders before us had a bed bug problem and had to exterminate and tear apart the entire apartment. They are relentless.  So that was another one of my experiences my first here in McKeesport.  Remember, I told you there was only a Branch here?  Well it is great.  I enjoy the members I have met so far.  We invited "D" and "T" to church on Sunday and they accepted.  On Sunday morning we were meeting with the Branch Council and mentioned the bug problem to the Council.  They told us to call "D" and "T" to tell them not to come to church (because they could bring bugs into the church and cause a problem).  So I go outside to call them and then they pull up so excited to be at church.  But we didn't spot any bugs on them so everything was okay. :)  Just trying to get to know the area has been exciting and frustrating at the same time!!! We have knocked on quite a few doors.  Some have been open to receive either us or the message while others haven't been willing to receive the message or us.  I love the town but more importantly I love the people in the town- they are hysterical!!! The first person I met in McKeesport said, "Yo. You guys preaching the word of God?"  It's great!  My District Leader is my companion, Elder Hebdon.  My Zone Leaders are Elder Wadsworth and Elder Bell in Pittsburgh.  This is the first time that me and Elder Richens (my MTC companion) have been split up since we came out together.  Yes I use visuals in my lessons.  I use the pamphlets for visualization.  I don't read out of them because I feel that would be so boring.  It's so much better if someone teaches by the Spirit than from a paper- take that as a note!!!!! Hahaha!!!!!!!

Well I think that's all.  I hope you have a fun week and are hard working as well.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Goodbye Olean, NY. Hello McKeesport, PA!

This is his first transfer!  He had such wonderful people (members and nonmembers) who took care of him that I am going to miss Olean too. lol  

Susan

Pittsburgh

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!! 

    I don't need any winter boots I don't think.  Hopefully it doesn't snow too hard. hahahaha You did mention gloves.  I think I would want an in-between- not thin or real  thick.  My hands freeze!!! Speaking of freezing, football is still happening?  Man that's gotta be cold! Hey Austin I know it stinks where you drive all the way up and don't play but look on the bright side- at least you get to be with the team.  Eventually your time will come! Man, is Spring Formal already around the corner?  I can't believe it.  I feel like I was just dancing yesterday. hahaha Crazy how time flies.  I wonder if Austin will ever go to that.  I don't feel like dances are his thing but man, I was all about those dances haha!!!  Wow, Tyler is 22.  How does that make you feel mom?  It seems like yesterday he was training for football back in WA and now he's met a girl.  I am so mad that I don't get to meet Hannah in person but I'll see her after the mission.  That stinks that Kyle is feeling sick.  That's no good! I need to write an email to him and see how he's doing and ask him what he's been up to!!!  I'm so glad that HF gave me the amazing opportunity to have my brothers be apart of our family. As you come out into the mission you realize that family is the central unit to God's plan.  Now imagine you lived in a family that was either torn apart or not getting along or where they don't support each other or care about one another.  I've seen a lot of that here on my mission and I'm so grateful for our entire family- Aunt Cami, Uncle Darrin, Aunt Amy, Scott, Aunt Alison, Grandma J, Grandpa Cook, Grandad Steve, Darlene, Nana and Papaw and all my cousins and brothers.  The Plan of Salvation makes me so happy!  That is my favorite thing to teach because that's the ultimate goal- to live with our family forever!!!!!!!!!!  Even our crazy circus family hahahaha!!!!!!! 

Wow let me tell you this week had its up and it's downs but now I'm feeling normal.  This week was transfer week and guess what?  I'm getting transferred!!!  So Goodbye to Olean, NY.  It was really sad to go; to leave all those great people Bishop DuPont, Bob, Dave & Laurie and so many more.  I made a lot of friends and they were really sad to see me go- especially Bishop and Dave.  They both teared up and thanked me for all my hard work.  I said thanks and then jokingly said, "I still don't even know what I'm doing" hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna miss them.  So the drive down to Pittsburgh was definitely difficult and we had a bunch of luggage!!!! Elder Miller, our District Leader, got a call from President Johnson and he called him to be the new Assisstant to the President.  He freaked out.  He called my companion, Elder Harper, and asked for advice because Elder Harper was an AP.  Then Elder Richens, my MTC companion, got his call to be a Trainer and he is still in Warren- both excited and nervous.  Then I got my call and I'm heading to McKeesport, PA.  It is just south of Pittsburgh. A suburb of it, I think.  The funny part is that everyone I have talked to has no idea what that town is like and no one has served there.  Elder Harper said it was an old oil town that is now deserted and that there is only a Branch there.  This will be my first time in a Branch. hahaha  My companion is Elder Hebdon- he used to be in my Zone in Erie.  He seems like a cool guy so I'm excited.  He's tall and skinny.  I'm excited to begin anew but a little nervous.  The area will be great- I know it will!!!! 

    Well, for Pday yesterday we stopped in the city and took pictures.  It was so cool!!  These are the pictures of me in various parts of the city.  The coolest part was seeing this one building.  Alright, you know the one scene in "Batman, the Dark Knight Rises" where Batman and Bane fight?  Well the scene at the end of the movie was filmed in Pittsburgh at this building!!!!!!!!! :)  It was soooo cool.  Me and Elder Richens were like, "Batman is real!!!!!!!" Hahaha  Well, in that scene there are explosions and the residue from the explosions stained the building.  They haven't been able to remove the stain.  So the explosion marks from the movie are still there on the building and I got to see it.  That was really cool!!!!!!!!!!!  We spent the whole day in Pittsburgh exploring and even got to play basketball.  Man do you have to be straight balling up in order to play with the Elders of Pitt or with the people in Pitt for that matter!  It was insane!!!!!  I didn't embarrass myself thank goodness!!!!!  I said a prayer with real intent in my heart and got on the court.  I didn't play like LeBron but I was putting up balls and making moves that I know I didn't do!  I had angels on my left and my right helping me out.  I began to understand the game of basketball and not look like I didn't know what I was doing.  I looked decent and I did put a few scores up on the board!!!!!!! Those basketball shoes will come in handy mom hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Well, I love all of you and hope you make this week a week of work and a week of fun.  Have a great week.  Love you.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)



Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Double Or Nothing

Aloha family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's crazy that you and mom both write me yet it's on 2 totally different things.  You know who I'd love to hear from?  Austin!!!! Austin I know that I did a terrible job writing Tyler and now I feel so badly because I've discovered that you are so far from
family and you want to hear from them all the time. Now I'm not saying you need to write me every week nor am I saying write a long letter, all I'm saying is just write 1 or 2 sentences once in a while telling me what's going on in your life! 'Cause I have NO IDEA!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha  But now that Mom is reading this to you, she'll make you write me.   hahaha Sorry bro!!!!!!!  So it sounded like everyone's had a pretty good week.  Mom, thank you so much for bearing that testimony to me.  I want that strong, firm testimony like you!!!! I know I can achieve it too!!!! I'm doing great!  Dad, I've had an amazing week of full of fun and of the Spirit.  I love that you can do both without having to hinder one or the other.  I used to think it was the total opposite back home.  I thought I couldn't have fun to have the Spirit or if I had fun I would not feel the Spirit.  It is the best of both worlds on your mission!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!  Some kids think they are having fun when really it's destructive.  Remember "wickedness never was happiness."   It's like Yoda says in Star Wars "Confusion leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." It's like the pride cycle in the B.O.M. Speaking of the B.O.M. I finally finished it and now I'm going to start the New Testament.  There are so many good teaching examples in there.  My goal by the end of my mission is to teach how the Savior taught-  doctrinally sound, with love, kindness and full of the Spirit. I love watching the Bible videos and seeing Jesus Christ testify and rebuke everyone.  It's the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That's how I wanna teach. hahaha jk  You have to have charity for without charity ye are nothing. Paul teaches that.  It's in 1 Corinthians 13! I love that chapter!!!!! So hey I'd love to tell Tyler happy birthday but I don't have his email.  When you get a chance could you email that to me?  That would be fantastic!

 

Well the only time we really do sports is at zone training at Lake Erie and I wear my brace because I have to.  My knee is still pretty weak (especially when you don't exercise it at all).  It doesn't bother me and it feels good so that is awesome.   So this week I got to go on exchanges with Elder Miller to Warren, PA.  It started out well.  We were contacting some people that were
members who haven't attended church in a while and we even got to meet someone who Miller and Richens were searching for, for quite a while- that was really neat! We did a lot of walking and we came across this lady who could've sworn Elder Miller and I were twins.  hahaha It was so funny.  She was trying to explain to us that we were twins and we were telling her no we were just missionaries.  She wasn't having it.   We offered her a B.O.M. but she said no.  At least we confirmed to her that we weren't twins. hahaha  Well anyways we were walking in the downtown area of Warren when all of a sudden I hear from someone "get a job!" I was about to wave to him when I saw him.  It turns out it was our Zone Leaders Elder O'Keefe and Hyer.  They saw me and said where's Richens? I told them he was in Olean on exchanges.  They looked at each other as they were planning on doing exchanges with Richens.  But I was there so guess what?  I got to go on exchanges with the ZLs to Erie!  That never happens!!!!!!!!!!! I was super happy and was so pumped to go to Erie!!!!!!!!  While there, I got to play basketball there because it was Wednesday.  Let me tell you I've been improving on my b-ball game a lot.  I don't look like a goof.  I'm ok.  I made a lot of rebounds.  I didn't take any outside shots because I'm not good enough yet and didn't want to embarrass myself so I just did what I was good at:  I stole the ball, rebounded and did lay ups.  I didn't have my brace and that was a little scary but it all went well!

I remember cleaning up the leaves the Fall.  That was something I hated doing!  This week we had the opportunity to do some service for one of the members in our Ward.  He is moving out of his house into another member's home and so it felt like old times when I moved people at Mayflower.  So glad I did that job because I now know how to move a bunch of the stuff.  Everyone was helping out, working together.  I love that so many members were willing to put aside their lives and help other members and friends.  It was such a strong confirmation to me that no matter how busy we are, we can always help someone else out!  In fact, they needed some help on Pday and we told them that we would help and we just got back from that.  I love helping people.  Serving people is the best!!! I wouldn't mind so much anymore picking up the leaves.  If you want your soul to be healed just go serve someone.  I promise that'll do it!!!!!!!!!! Well have a great week bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😀😀😀

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Trunky Treat!!

New York in the Fall

(Evil laugh) hahaha Happy Halloween!!!!

Hello family!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Wow!  Let me just start off by saying thank you soooo much for the wonderful package.  It was great!!!!!!!!!! So many hoodies and sweaters! And ties!!!!!!!!!! I love ties!!!!! Thank you so much mom!!!!!!!! You even sent my long coat.  That was so nice of you!!!!!  

Nice, the whole family is giving a talk on doubts and how to overcome them.  Wow, that's a great topic.  Let me tell you, in the mission field you run into people that have a lot of doubts.  The quote I love is from Dieter F. Uchtdorf that says "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."  I love that one.  It's so simple and it can range from the tiny things to the huge things. I love that one! I just want to include that If you ever feel doubt that is always Satan.  He wants us to doubt ourselves so that we will not try but the Lord is the opposite- He will help lift us up and tell us to try.  We are Latter-day sinners who keep on trying no matter how many times we stumble or fall.  Another idea for your talks would be the story in the New Testament of Peter when he walked on the water.  When he was focused on the Savior, he was was able to walk on the water with confidence but as soon as he worried about the storms, his focus turned from the Savior to the storms and he became fearful.  As he did so, he sank because of his doubt.  The Savior is always there and will reach His hand out to save us from falling into temptation and darkness every time.  Jesus' response to Peter was... " O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt?" He was informing Peter it was because of his doubt that he sank.  Christ was telling him that if he had faith and trusted in Him, He would have given him strength to stand and walk on the water.  These same teachings apply to us.  Then my final thought is share the talk from this recent conference, "Choose the Light" by Elder Vern P. Stanfill.  Elder Stanfill was also the one who came and visited our mission!!!!!!!!!  Remember his talk? He was the one who went on a bike trip through a dark tunnel and even though he was an experienced cyclist, he doubted the lights and himself and became fearful. Another one that just popped into mind was our experience in the Ape Caves-  how the darkness engulfed us all.  How we were confused which way to go without our lights.  How we doubted we could get out of the caves without the help of our lights.  But we put our trust in the lights and they gave the light we need to be able to make it back outside.

I can't believe that Tyler has a girlfriend.  Anyways, it seems like he just got back from his mission.  Tell Tyler I miss him and say hi.  Send me pictures when he and his GF come to visit for Thanksgiving.  Austin, I'm so excited to hear that you are making plays and doing well as a Sophomore.  I wish I could see you play- I would love to see how much you've improved since last time I saw you. That's great that JV won and I'm glad they actually have a JV program 'cause we didn't have one when I was a Sophomore.  It was only C team and Varsity.

Well this year for Halloween guess what I dressed up as... A trunky missionary. hahahahaha  Well first I gotta give you a little back story.  So in the PPM we have a term called "trunks" which basically means you want to go back home, you want to pack up your suitcase or trunk and get back home. So if you ever hear me say, "I'm trunky" that's what it means.  So when Halloween rolled around I got super trunky because I wanted to go and dress up for Halloween!!!!!!   On Halloween night one whole year ago do you remember what happened? I was playing football for FHS against Miyamura and tore the rest of my ACL and was done with football forever... Wow, that was a year ago- just crazy!!!!! What did Austin do for Halloween?  Did he dress up? Did he go to a party?  Whatever he did I hope it was fun!!!!!!  

So Mom to answer your question about what I teach my investigators:  I teach them that faith in Jesus Christ is an action.  You have to put forth your effort and do your part if you want to receive that spiritual light.  I love the Mormon message "The Hope Of God's Light."  Take the opportunity to watch it if you haven't already.  He talks about receiving spiritual light and getting out of the darkness takes an act of faith.  If we have faith and are willing to work for it.  God will reveal himself to you but spiritual light is never given to those who sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch.  With faith, you will want to change and repent and become better and progress.  I actually came up with this neat way to teach faith:

Analogy: cliff step- explain you are on a cliff.  God asks you to step off the cliff.  He tells you that an invisible path is there but you just can't see it. Do you have faith in Jesus Christ and take that step or do you believe that it's not there and not take the step?

I often tell them this: I think anyone can believe in Jesus Christ but I don't know if anyone can have faith in him.  For faith is action and not everyone wants to take action and follow the Lord and his commandments.

Well that's it for my thoughts and I think that wraps up this email.  Thank you so much for all that you do.  Hope that all goes well this week.  I love you guys.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Elder Cahoon the Baboon 
 

Trevor and Bob.  Everyone needs
a lift evey now and then.

 

The Elders and their friend, the Catholic Priest.

Just messing around. 
 

Pizza time!

 


Snow Problem

Helloooooooo family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is cold here!!!! Let me tell you I have had a great week.  They go by soooo fast- like today seems like last Monday. It's crazy and this Saturday is Halloween.  Last Halloween, on Halloween night, I was playing in a football game and I tore my ACL- remember Mom and Dad?  That was 1 whole, complete year ago..... Wow that's insane! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was playing football.  That's how time flies!!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha  Well, before I get too ahead of myself, Mom, I will answer your questions.  Thanks for making them stick out!!! Hahaha
Alright,
1. I'm in the Jamestown District
2. My budget is doing fine
3. Yes I'm getting enough to eat
4. Yes I have enough money
5. Honestly I don't care what I get for Christmas- just being out here on a mission is good enough.

Hopefully that answers it Mom!!!! hahahahaha  Well, let me tell you this week we have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off.  We had to type all the names from our Ward list (which is like 360 people) and locate them all and visit them.  So we've done alot of number clicking and that was pretty much our week.  We did have some great experiences though. For one, President Johnson and Sister Johnson came to see us so that was sooooo much fun!!!!!!!! I love President and Sister Johnson.  They are seriously like mom and dad (I don't call them that) but they are so sweet and caring.  Mom, if Dad was called to be a Mission President and you were his companion and a teacher and "mom" to the missionaries, you would act exactly like Sister Johnson does with the missionaries.  Anyways, during our interview together President asked if there was anything I was struggling with.  I told him sometimes I still wake up some mornings and think I'm back home but... I'm not.  I told him after that I get really sad because I just want to run into
each of your rooms and personally tell you with all my heart that I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!  I look back and I notice how terrible of a son or brother I was.  I am really sorry.  Austin, Mom and Dad, please forgive me.  After that interview and District Meeting, I was pumped and excited to do more missionary work!!!!!!

Well, we had an amazing discussion with "K" last night.  Let me tell you the wonderful transformation and change he has had and he continues to change.  Well when we first met him- remember he was the one who had no pants on?  Well that was 2 months ago.  He used to struggle with some Word of Wisdom stuff and he was even attending another church.  Now he is attending the LDS church regularly and has given up some of his addictive habits!  He has really changed his life.  That's the reason we come on missions- not for the number of baptisms but to change lives.  After that lesson with "K," He just looked so happy!  It is so amazing to me that I have been able to witness that kind of transformation.  That I have been able to be with him through this process and his progress and to see him to truly begin to be happy again!  I'm so proud of him!!!!!! 

Now let me tell you that on Sunday it snowed!!!!!!! It was crazy.  It's not even December yet!  There was snow all on the ground and there were flakes falling through the air and it was a winter wonderland!!!!!! hahahaha  I wanted to start singing Christmas songs and go sledding hahaha!!! It was great!!!!!! So sorry the letter is short but I didn't have much to report on this week besides those things I told you about.  I love you all!  Mom tell Tyler and Hannah that I said hi.  Talk to you all next week!!!!!!!!! Love you!  Bye!!!!!!!!!♥️♥️♥️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Game Time!

Dear Family and Friends, 

What time is it? Game time! What time is it? Game time! What time is it? Game time! Aloha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me just start off by saying this was a great week!!!!!!!!! Alright now I can begin.  Yes I did get the letter last week talking
about Danny.  It was so cool seeing him at the Palmyra Temple and just hearing all those names that I knew and he knew like Kurt, Darin, Cami, Amy.  It was a sweet tender mercy from the Lord because there are no coincidences!!!!!!! I know that!  Austin buddy I want to talk to you for a little bit buddy.  What's going on with your back!?!  You know mom's gonna pull you out of football for getting hurt. hahaha  But seriously mom already had to deal with me for 3 years with all my injuries and now you have back problems.  I do hope you get better.  I'll pray for you bud!  I want what's best for you!!! I know we used to compete on who is better at what but I just want you to have the best. I want the best for you 'cause I love you!

Soooooo this week was the pump up I needed to improve the work.  Now I feel better than ever on the mission. So I'll start from the beginning. First off, Elder Harper is a GREAT companion we joke around and have fun and do work. I want to emphasize that having fun and working hard in the mission and in life (in anything) is key because if you are working and not experiencing joy why work? Yea some days are harder than others but you gotta look at the positive. So that's what Elder Harper and I do!!  So we had a lesson with the Skinners who just got baptized Friday.  The lesson was on eternal marriages and family history.  I was teaching the a lot of it because Elder Harper wants to see how well I do. Anyways, we taught them about the temple and I bore my testimony on the importance of family and how much of a blessing it is to me to know that families can be together forever.  I told them how much I love each of you and want the best for you!!! See, I really do love you guys!!!!!! Hahaha but it was a really good lesson and they felt the Spirit.  Elder Harper said I did well.  I really am seeing my teaching skills grow!!!😃❤️😃 Then I went on splits with (Former Bishop) Bishop "D."  I love that man!!!!!!!!!!!  He is seriously the most charitable man you will ever meet!!!!!! I can't wait for you all to see him when we go on the tour of the mission when I get back. Anyways, I went with him and we taught a less-active about commandments and why they are there for us.  The Spirit was so strong!!! She even bore her testimony on commandments!!!!! Also this week we had zone training and me and Elder Richens went on exchanges in Warren.  That was fun.  I love spending time with Elder Richens- we have so much fun!!!!!!! We talk about MTC times and all that good stuff. So then came our zone training which was good.  They asked me to share a talk from Conference I liked.  I chose "What Lack I Yet?" by Larry R. Lawrence.  I was explaining how I would get so frustrated with myself if I didn't do something correctly or didn't teach well in a lesson.  I explained that I wanted to be like Tyler at the end of his mission.  I wanted to be as great as he was and I wanted that now. But as I listened to that talk the Spirit was saying to me it has to be at my pace and it will take time but I can become better- it just takes time.  Also I shared the quote "our direction is much more important than our speed."  It doesn't come all at once.  If it didn't I would get frustrated but the Spirit speaks to us line upon line, precept upon precept.  That's when I truly knew what "line upon line precept upon precept" meant.  After the meeting we went and we played football and volleyball at the Erie Lake (more like ocean).  When game time came around,  I was killing it out there.  I was making plays and touchdowns- even played quarterback.  I did a good job.  I threw a touchdown and I was pumped!!!!!  Me, E Richens and E. Miller, his comp, were all just throwing down and making plays.  It was sick!!!!!!

Then the next day (Friday) we had the baptism of the Skinners.  This was such a great experience.  Also funny story:  Bishop was the one who baptized them and "F" is about 6'6 and weighs around 230 lbs. and Bishop "D" is 74 years old and he was the one who was  baptized him.  Well it turns out he tried twice and he almost fell over with "F"!!!!!!! Hahahaha It was pretty funny.  But then we were trying to figure out how are we going to do this so "F" got on his knees and Bishop baptized him on his knees!!!!!!   We then baptized "K" and that was such an amazing experience!!!!! I have pictures!!!!!! Then we confirmed them on Sunday.  They were smiling from ear to ear!!!!!!!😀😀😀

Last night on Sunday, we went over to Bishop "M's" house (the new Bishop) and we discussed how we as missionaries can benefit the work in our Ward.  After that meeting and I was prompted to ask my bishop what could I do to help him.  Thatt's how I want to approach all my Bishops in all my wards.  I want to be out here to just serve my God, my Mission President and my Bishop.  I just want to serve!!!!!!!!!!! I love my mission sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃 I hope that Austin will be just as excited.  So for you Austin, to prepare a little, get a Preach My Gospel booklet and look in chapter 10 "Teaching Skills."  That's the best chapter for how to teach better!!!!!!! You study that everyday out in the mission!!!!!!!!! That's your homework hahahahaha 

Well I love all y'all take care love you bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon

Beginning With The End In Mind

 

 

Dear Family and Friends,
 

Wow Austin you are doing awesome in football this year. I'm so proud of you!!!! And you're getting bigger! Unfortunately... I'm getting smaller...😫 so I think when I get back you might actually be bigger than me if you keep up the hard work!!!!! That's key!!! Don't stop lifting bud- you can do it, I know you can!!!!!  I'm so glad you were able to watch conference.  This one was so amazing!!!!!!!!! I love conference now! It's like Christmas for me.  I was sooooo excited to hear the prophet and apostles speak! Talking about prophets, President Monson didn't look too good near the end of his talk.  He was leaning over and breathing heavily.  I hope everything is alright! My favorite talk in conference mom (and you'll be surprised by this) was a Sister!!!!!  Can you believe that?  I can't remember her name but she talked on how in their family they have a
motto and that motto is "It will all work out in the end."  She told the story of a family where the mom, dad, brother and sister had all died in a plane crash.  The other 2 sons survived because 1 was on a mission and 1 was on a school trip. Could you imagine?  Picture this: your mission president brings you into his office, sits you down, and tells you your 17 yr. old brother is alive but the rest of your family has died in a plane crash.  I wouldn't know what to do with myself or what to
think!  Imagine that- especially from my view!!!  I feel like most people (includiIng myself) would come home right then and there from their mission.  But you know what?  That young man didn't... and I want to be just like him.  He still served a mission because he knew that was what his mom would've wanted.  He knew it would all work out in the end.  With that being said, think of the other 17 yr. old brother on a school field trip.  Think of him finding out that his entire family that had been aboard the plane had died in the crash.  How sad....  Not only that, but now think if them trying to figure out who's going to take care of them.  They were probably asking, "Where do I go?  What do I do?"  Those would be questions I would ask. Not only that, but he attended the funeral of his family.  He had to speak and he saw his family member's still bodies.  However, this young man with a testimony of a giant, got up.  He knew that he would see his family again and he knew that it would all work out in the end!  This story touched my heart!  What I got from this story is that no matter what trial comes upon you or me, we have to have that positive attitude of it will all work out in the end- NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!! I want to have a testimony like that that those 2 extraordinary men had!!!!!!!!!!!!
 




Sister "C"-  First Baptism

Now let me tell you how crazy-spiritual this week was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, this past Saturday I had my first baptism- Sister "C."  It was such an amazing experience.  There were so many people there supporting her and helping her. That's when Elder Tengberg got the boot!😬  He is now a District Leader in Beaver Valley Pittsburgh North!!!!! Going. Going. Gone!!!!!!! However, before transfers (his last day here in Olean) we went to the Palmyra Temple with Brother "C" when he took out his own endowment!!!!!!!!!!! 👍 That was the coolest moment on my mission because that's the ultimate goal in the



Brother "C" and others from Olean Ward

mission.  It is not to get them to the font- the font is just the beginning- it is to get them to the temple.  The temple is where we want to get to in the end (-that's the reason for the subject line of this email "Beginning with the end in mind").  That's the purpose of life.  We begin this life and endure to the end which will eventually have us returning to our Father in Heaven.  I know that we can get there and I know he wants us to be with Him in heaven forever. Oh Yea!!!!!!!!

After the temple, when I was outside, I met a gentlemen who grew up with Kurt,Darin and Dad (he even knows you, Mom).  His name was Dan Ivie.  Do you know him, Dad? Does that name sound familiar? Did you get his text message he sent to you? Anyways, I talked to him for awhile and that was really neat!!!!!!!!!!!!  His son, Andrew, will be serving a mission soon and they were visiting the church history sites in the Palmyra area.  How cool is it that I'm 2 hours away from Palmyra and just last year we were up there as a family and we had no idea my mission and area would cover Olean, NY!!!!!??????  I truly am blessed!  Well after the temple we spent the whole day saying goodbye to those who went up with us.  That was sad.  Bishop started crying and he said, "Dang it I'm gonna kill President J for taking my missionary."   Hahahah He's so funny like that. 

New Companion Elder Harper

 

My new Companion is Elder Harper!!!!!!!!!! HEY GET THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Elder Harper was the first missionary to start teaching Brother "C" and so now he's back.  He was able to stand in the circle when we confirmed Sister "C" on Sunday!!!!!!!!! How amazing is that it?? What an amazing blessing it is to see that.  What wonderful memories and times we had in their home!  So that is the lay down of this week. 

 

Fall in beautiful NY

  See
Ya Next
Week!


Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon