One More Week!

Hello family  and friends!!!!!!!! 

Butler Missionaries helping the Fuller's decorate

This week, so many wonderful and amazing things happened- it was great!!!!! We had a pretty boring PDAY.  It wasn't very exciting.  We just played Uno and wrote back home to the family.  I love this area and the people but the District here isn't as close knit as all the other ones have been.  I'm just hoping that it becomes more like a family- a brother and sisterhood!!!   I like to have fun and work hard too!  

I truly do love the District though and the people here in Butler.  I'm excited to see what will happen in the future as we stay and work hard.  We saw a ton of people on Tuesday and just tried to share the #lightheworld video with everyone.  I'm so grateful for this initiative and all the wonderful things about it. We then got to go to an old folks home and were able to sing to all the residents there- it was absolutely great!!!! We sang a lot of songs and it was fantastic. I even got to share my talent and play he piano. I'm truly grateful for this talent.  It has blessed me in my life as well as brought joy to others.  I'm so glad mom you kept me in piano lessons.  I love playing.  I am also glad I am able to play well enough to where I can play on the spot if needed.  After the singing and playing, a snow storm hit. hahaha!!!!  It snowed pretty hard but we pushed onward as we walked in it.  It piled on my shoes and my feet were SOAKED!!!!!! Hahaha lol  That's why I need another pair of boots.  We got home that night and got a report on our iPads all the snow would freeze over.

So guess what!?! We went out the next morning and all the roads were plowed and it was super safe on the roads!!! However, if I haven't mentioned it yet or if you all have forgotten, I'm in a walk area!!! So we don't ride in a car.  We normally walk on the sidewalks but all the sidewalks were frozen over and all the snow that WAS on the road was pushed over onto the sidewalks.  As we went out proselyting, we soon realized that it had turned from a walk area to a skate area!😅😆😂  We were slipping and sliding all around but none of us fell.  It was a little dangerous but we managed.  😉  The great blessing that came from the storm was that there were many people outside trying to shovel and scrape off their sidewalks.  We managed to pick up 1 new investigator!!!! His name is Bobbie- a younger guy.   Then we met an angel by the name of Lisa.  She is loving, kind and selfless. We offered to shovel her snow.  She declined but we knew she needed help so we eventually persuaded her to let us help her out.  As we finished shovelling, she began to tell us her story. We found out this amazing mom gave up her home, job, and time to help her own mother who is no longer able to take care of herself.  So Lisa packed up and moved from Beaver (1 hour away) to Butler to help her mom.   HE story really touched my heart (I felt this was my personal Christmas miracle to run into her and get to know her).  We shared with her the #lighttheworld video and she told us how much strength and hope it gave her.  She kept telling us how we were an answer to her prayers.  We left her a copy with he B.O.M. She doesn't have a place to live right now and she is really busy so she told us she'd give us a call! Hopefully she calls us!!! We haven't been able to see either Toby or Cassandra they had other things come up so we hope to see them this week!!!! 

The next day we went to help Loretta at a church where we serve food to those in need. I also got to use my piano playing talent again.  They needed someone to play and the members at the church were so appreciative.  We sang Christmas carols (we even had a request to sing "The 12 Days Of Christmas") and it was soooo wonderful!!!!!!! We got the youth at the church involved and all the youth sang too!  The Youth Director said they wouldn't sing unless we "rallied the troops" and that's exactly we did,  It was great!!!!!!  I've been able to affiliate with other churches and Faiths here in Pennsylvania and it's been so great.  We couldn't do the great and wonderful things that we have been able to do without them! God Bless all these religions and faiths!!!!!!!!

One day we went to a pizza place to eat.  Our waitress was sooo cool and chill.  As she was cleaning up, she dropped a tray of cucumbers that she had just cut up and they went all on the floor.  I offered help clean them up.  I told her to not be embarrassed.  As we were leaving, she handed us the check and there was $17.00 taken off our check.  We brought it to her attention and she told us that she was grateful we had helped her.  We left her with a pass-a-long card. How sweet was that??!!! 

I would write some more and share with more experiences but I'm talking to you guys literally next week.  Ok. just this last cool experience that just actually happened today.  So everyone wanted to get haircuts and I was just going to email while  waited.  Then an older gentleman and his daughter came in and he wanted a place to sit.  I offered to have them sit by me.  I had a thought that I should just talk to him insted of emailing. I didn't want to though 'cause I wanted to email.  I had the thought again and put my ipad away.  I do enjoy talking to people so I asked about himself.  He talked about his childhood, his father, his 8 sons and 2 daughters.  He told me about the lessons he has learned in life.  Then he was called to get a haircut and I was just going to get out my ipad and begin again to email you.  But then his daughter, Rae, started talking to me.  There was another member there and she began talking to us as well.  Well, Elder Spyndergaard and the Dad, Braden, were finishing up at the same time so we left out the door together.  We went different ways (we were going to eat at Little Caesars).  As we were sitting down, we see Rae running across the parking lot.  She gave us a $20 bill and thanked us for talking with her dad.  How amazing is that?  I will ever be grateful for her love for her father, for listening to the Holy Ghost and putting down my ipad (twice) and for showing kindness to us missionaries (complete strangers)!!!!!!

I love this season.  I love talking to people and I love listening to people's stories. I love being out here.  I love losing myself in service and I love you guys.  Take care. Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Christmas is coming!

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!! 

My new District

WOW another week gone has gone by and this was one of the craziest weeks on my mission so far!!! So many things happened it has been insane! You all seemed to have a great week. I'm so glad it all went well. Yes mom I did get the package- thanks a ton- I loved it sooo much!!!!  I'm so glad you had thhose experiences mom and those answers to prayers.  Our church is at 11:00 so anytime after that is great!!! I will let you know more details.  I cant wait to be able to talk to Tyler and you all- its going to be so GREAT!!!!!!!! I can't wait  for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I'm super excited you've been doing the #lighttheworld daily tasks.  That's way sweet!  Austi, Happy Birthday buddy!  You are getting so old now man it's so weird!!!!!!  I'm amazed how much you have changed since I've been gone.  You are turning into a real man!!  You're a total stud dude.  I'm your biggest fan and I'm rooting you on buddy.  Just be the best Austin Scott Cahoon that you can be!  I'm grateful to have you as a brother and you definitely are my best friend.  I will always remember those times we had together when we were kids.  So much fun!   You are a great example to those around you so just keep doing what you need to do to become the man you want to be!  You are a hard worker and want to improve so keep it up buddy! I LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week has been crazy.  Lemme tell you, even if I tried, I wouldn't be able to fit it all into this letter.  This week started off great.  I mean I found out I got transferred and that was really upsetting but I've seen so many amazing things this week!  Last Monday I said bye to my District family- I really miss those preparation days. Camp Hill District pdays ROCKED!  I had everyone sign my Justin Bieber poster- it was soooooo funny!!!!!! Tuesday I was in a car ALL DAY!!!!  It was sooooo much fun.  We talked about memories with other Elders and Sisters and we just had a blast!!!!  We laughed the whole way to Pittsburgh!!!!    When i got there I went with Elder Bryant and he drove me to Butler.  I told him that he was my only friend in this new zone.  He told me that he would check up on me and email me which was nice.  Then I met my new companions.  I'm in another trio- this is my fourth trio!!!! CRAZY!!!! Its been such a BLAST!!!!! SO my companions are Elder Syndergaard (he's been out for 14 1/2 months and I served with him in Pittsburgh) and Elder Andrews (Elder Syndergaard just got done training him so I know how that goes but its all good).  E. Andrews is a fun guy and he follows Elder Syndergaard and is super humble. 

The van ride from the east to west side of the mission
They all had a blast!

At first I was not looking super forward to the new area.  But then a huge miracle exchange happened the next day! I was with Elder Whitehead and Andrews and we did a lot of street contacting- trying to talk to everyone- and by the end of the day we picked up 3 investigators!!!!!!!  It was absolutely insane.  That has never happened with me before.  We were all blown away!  We talked to sooo many different people and we shared so many things.  We shared the #lighttheworld video with a kid who was looking for the truth and he enjoyed it.  I have seen and met a lot of people in the Butler area.  My area is about 45 min. from Pittsburgh so I'm back on the West side of the mission and I like it!  Maybe we will go to Pitt for a Pday.  It is good being in the same stake as the Wexford ward (that's the one with the Jenkins family- I love them!!!).  We did service at a place called Katie's Kitchen and it was a lot of fun.  We go with the Sisters (by the way, their names are Sister Fenton- been out 3 months and Sister Mackelprang).  They are a ton of fun and they drive us around just like all the other Sisters I've served around.  Oh, also its snowing here now which is awful.  I hate the Pennsylvania snow- it's soooo cold.  Thank goodness for the coats and gloves I got from other elders.  

We have been running around like mad men. We walk around (we don't have bikes) but I enjoy walking around and talking to people!!!  While on exchanges, we got to go on a team up with a member (that means the member joins us when teaching or contacting).  We were waiting for him when we struck up a conversation with a lady.  We showed her the #lighttheworld video and she really liked it.  Her name was Hope and as we began to share the some stuff about the Book of Mormon, Anthony (our team up) turns the corner and joins in the conversation.  He then begins to testify of how he is preparing for a mission like us and that he was able to read the BOM and pray about and received a witness from the spirit that it was true.  Sweet!!!!!! Hope took the BOM and was willing to take the challenge.  

Then had a sweet lesson with another investigator.  He had a lot of questions about life before this life and life after death.  We were so excited because no one ever has questions thatfit so perfectly into our lessons.  We taught him the Plan Of Salvation.  He had previously been studying this topic out for himself and a lot of what he had discovered fit into what we were teaching him.  It was amazing!!!  Powerful testimonies were borne and as we knelt in prayer after the lesson, he asked it he could offer it (which also never happens).  So what tender mercies from God I have been given as I first struggled with being transferred!!!!! 

We don't see very many of the members who haven't been at church for a while- the sisters stop by and visit them.  We usually try and find investigators through the members and by our own efforts.  Speaking of which, we talked to this lady on her porch and we shared the #lighttheworld card and a BOM with her.  We set up a return appointment as well.  :)

The best reunion happened yesterday (Sunday).  We went to a stake devotional and I got to see a few people I knew from the Wexford ward.  I saw Brother Lubin and that was such a great reunion.  It was like seeing family. I told him I missed him and he was so great to me.  He started to tear up and gave me about 3 more hugs- such a tender moment. I didn't see the Jenkins family but if I did it would've been amazing!!!!! We drove back home with members and it was a ton of fun!!!! 

We were also able to provide service at another place called the Lighthouse.  Everyone was nice and we got to meet all sorts of  people.  Even though the people didn't have a whole lot for "stuff" for Christmas, they still were happy and grateful for what they did have.  I have been in some poor areas and have seen people that didn't have much.  My mission has really helped me to realize if you want to be happy it's a choice.  Being grateful for what you have IN your circumstances (not BECAUSE OF your circumstances) will help you to feel happiness within your heart.   A positive attitude will help you to have a love for people and to have a desire to help others.  This will bring happiness. The world and what it offers doesn't make people happy.  It's temporary pleasure.  This is Satan's deceitful way.  The world will tell you that the new cool thing is what brings happiness or eating or drinking this or that will make you happy.   

I'm glad I'm in the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission as it has helped to teach me to live the way God was us to live- to be wise in our everyday decisions and to make a concious effort to keep the commandments.  So thank God for the opportunity to change through the Atonement that was made possible by Jesus Christ!  I am glad I can change, even if it is hard!  

I had some amazing inspiration this week as I was reading in Romans chapter 12.  I read in verse 1-2 where it talked about the Sacrament and its importance in our lives.  I received some revelation on how truly important it is to me and how I need to partake of the Sacrament so I can be blessed to be spiritually fed by the Spirit (or in other words I can prepare myself to receive the promptings I need to help me be a better person and better missionary).  If there was anything that Bishop Hintze taught the most about while I was in Lewisberry, it was the Sacrament and how sacred and important that ordinance is.  I learned a lot from BIshop Hintze.  I'm finishing up Romans and it's been great. I mark my scriptures like crazy. lol  

Saying goodbye to Bishop Hintz and family- I love them!  My face says it all!

A family made this cake for me before I left! 

I love you guys.  Hope you have a great Christmas.  Love you.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Tears, Triumphs and Transfers

Hello family and friends!!!!!!! 

This week has been so memorable and such a great, fantastic week; however some bad news... I'm being transferred 😱😭😱😢 I know, I can hardly believe it myself.  Right before Christmas too UGGGGHHH!!!!!!! Very frustrating. I'm going to know absolutely nobody in this next ward I'm in so that's no fun.  The address is "209 S Main St #2, Butler, PA 16001"

Guess what!?!? I'll also be in another trio AAAHH!!!!!!! This will be my fourth tripanionship. I'm excited to see what will happen and what the new experience will be like. I hope all will be well!!!!  I've loved being here in this ward- I've learned so much from all the members here! I'm grateful for all that they do and I've definitely been well taken care of here!!!!  Thank you dad for your email and advice.  I will definitely use that to my advantage. I'm glad I have you as a dad.  You definitely are a light and wonderful example in my life! Thank you Dad!!!

This week we had many miracles and it was definitely the best way I've left an area so far.  I'm so glad I was able to see the changes in the people and the area.  The beginning part of this week I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Hatch, our district leader, (we came out together) and it was so much fun.  We were able to do some service for a member in that ward. The lady that lives there is nice and loves the missionaries.  She has a lot of "stuff" and piles it in her room.  We were able clear some of the room.  It was good exercise.  I also was reminded of the lesson I have learned of cleaning things and making sure everything is neat.  We also got to go to a Greek Orthodox Church.  It was so cool hearing about their belief.  It was interesting listening to their beliefs.  I was awe-struck with the spaciousness of their chapel.  The preacher was such a kind man and answered any questions we had.  

We then had zone training that week and it was a blast!!!!! I volunteered to play a piano musical number.  I played "In Christ Alone."   It went pretty well and I'm glad I was able to help out. We got a great training on how to use the #lighttheworld LDS Christmas initiative in our missionary efforts and how to help members do that as well. We got to watch the mission video for his year.  It was good to have those highlights on the film.  Sister Wells and the other 3 sisters that died in the car accident were brought up and talked about in the video.  Even though I didn't know any of them, I'm glad that others talked about them and shared their experiences they had with them. There were a few people that were going home and shared great testimonies!  I loved one Elder's testimony as he talked about the book,  "You Are Special."  Do you remember that book and movie mom?  You read it to us and we watched it when we were younger.  The Elder talked about the stars and the dots and how the dots resembled sins.  He then talked about how Heavenly Father is the woodmaker and when we figure out our divine heritage and that we have a loving Heavenly Father, we know that we are special.  He talked about how we only let sins/dots stick to us if we don't use the Atonement.  We can overcome temptation with the help of Christ.  Christ is able to remove those dots from us permanently. I loved that testimony!!!!!  It's true.  If we know where we came from then we know that we are special.  I know Jesus Christ he can remove my dots and I want to use the Atonement so no dots stick.  It was a great meeting!!!  Afterwards, we went to a Texas Roadhouse!!!!  Then we drove back home.  

 

There wasn't just onea highlight for me this week- there were many things.  We got to show Michael the #lighttheworld video.  He loved it!  He was posting it on instagram!  He is so excited he even helped his mom with the dishes before we left!  I mean this kid is a stud!!!!!  I'm so sad I'm leaving him.  We actually had him come to a chapel tour with us and I really could feel the spirit and I know he could too!  We invited him to the ward Christmas party and he came. We also invited Chandler, another investigator, to the chapel tour and he showed up to the tour and ward Christmas party too!!!  Turns out they know each other from school and are actually friends!!!!!!!! lol Isn't that crazy??!!! They had a ton of fun and hopefully they can help support each other!!  I saw Stephen on Sunday night and we had such a powerful lesson.  The Holy Ghost was sooo strong!!!!!!  Stephen truly felt the Holy Ghost.  He told me he was grateful to get to know me.  As we were leaving, Stephen and I hugged and I began to cry (which was really weird because I don't cry very often) but it was such a special moment.  I'm so grateful for him!!!!  I will never forget that family.  I love you guys. Take care.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Gobbling Garnished Goods!

Hola family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!! 

What a wonderful time it was this Thanksgiving.  Now it's onto Christmas!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh✋🏻😃🖐🏻 I will tell you all about this wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and the wonderful adventures that I had!!!   Could you send me some more pictures?  I need to see all your beautiful, shining, happy faces! Sometimes pictures can describe things better than words so please just send me pictures of what you're doing throughout the week.  This goes for anyone that gets my emails.  If you don't want to email me (and trust me I totally get it) send a picture! I absolutely LOVE pictures.   

So this week was great and a ton of fun! I learned a lot of lessons this week as well! So Tuesday we got to do my favorite thing!!!!! Service!!!!!!  Also my favorite kind of service- we got to cut some wood!!!  I was a little disappointed when I got there because the wood was really bad looking wood (not nice even wood you want to cut but it was all uneven and misshaped.  In my first area we cut wood all the time and those were the prettiest looking pieces of wood I have ever cut.  Sadly these weren't too appealing and were difficult to cut nicely but I still enjoy doing the work and being there.  The ax someone brought wasn't very sturdy and the ax head kept coming loose from the handle so that was a red flag!  There wasn't much wood to cut but it was good to get the feel again.  My companion cut wood for his first time on his mission and looked very natural.  He must have had some prior experience.  The member we were doing service for was impressed with our skills. The lady needed the wood for heat so we were glad to lend a helping hand!  Service is always good!  

We then got to see Sister N who has been coming to church pretty regularly.  She actually will be reactivated this next month if she comes twice so fingers crossed!!!! We are so pumped because she's been striving to go to he temple and has gone through the temple preparation class.  She just needs to get to church this next month and I think she will be good to go! So exciting!  I hope I'll still be here for that!!  Transfer boards come out this week so I hope I am staying here during Christmas.  I would be soooo sad if I left before because it would be so hard to say goodbye and leave right before Christmas.  I asked President to keep me here. hahaha  WE also were able to see Sister N's son, E.  He is a fun kid and he loves having us over.  He's 4 years old and is the cutest kid!  That kid is a girl magnet- all the girls love E.  He is very friendly to everyone and especially to his teachers at school.  Sister N and her sister are amazing mothers.  They try their best to raise their kids right and help them in every way they can. I've met some incredible women on my mission that truly sacrifice all they have for their children (whether they are single moms or not).  There really have been such selfless women out here that I have met.  I have deep respect for their hard work and love they give their families.  What a blessing these daughters of God are!  

We were also able to see George S.  He is an older gentleman we have been trying to see for a while now and we finally were able to see him!!!!!!!  We talked to him for a little awhile and were able to catch up.  We tried a few other people that day but to no avail- they weren't home.

Thanksgiving Eve we went to the Stake Center to attend a Thanksgiving event .  There were many different religions that participated.  Each shared a little about their church and what they were about. The theme for his year was "Home is where the heart is."   It was really neat.  My favorite part of the evening was when a black Baptist preacher got up and was like, "We need to have a little bit of church up in here!"  He began to get excited and gave a great sermon.  I really enjoyed his sermon!

As I think about the women I have met on my mission, I am humbled by how much I lack in selflessness and dedication.  They are independent and strong.  What wonderful examples they are to me.  I am grateful to have a wonderful mother like you, mom.  You have had to put up with me my whole life.  You sacrificed your desires and your wants and wishes and put mine before yours.  You truly are such a powerful, strong woman.  I've told you before but I will say it again, Mom, you remind me of Emma Smith.  You both are loving and caring wives and mothers.  You never gave up nor lost hope through trials but kept pressing forward in faith, always pushing through, clinging onto the arm of God as He helped you through them.  Though I don't understand all you did for us, I am grateful (and ever will be grateful) for the blessing you have been to me in my life and for the ways your talents have blessed me.  Mom, I remember how you always wanted me to improve in all areas of my life; to continue to work harder and be the best that I could.  You never gave up on me! I will never forget my Sophomore year of high school when I was doing poorly in school.  You didn't let my circumstance of a broken leg and surgery get the better of me.  You always wanted me to rise above my situation(s).  You told me that I could do it!  I remember when I made the choice to work at it by improving my study habits and doing better on my tests.  I began to improve (in spite of yet another break and surgery) my Junior year and by my Senior year, I was able to  see that I could be a good student and that I wasn't dumb.  You helped me to learn that I needed to work hard and do my best and as a result, I did great on my tests, had a great GPA and got a scholarship.  You helped me mom to look past my physical limitations and not have them define my situation but rise above and overcome my circumstances.  That is a blessing you gave me!  Thank you mom.

Dad, I can't forget you! You play just as much as a role as mom.  You both together make the greatest team but more importantly- together we make the greatest family!  Dad, what great advice and help you've given me throughout my life.  You know one thing I've noticed more and more since I've served my mission is that you are not judgmental.  You don't look at a person's weaknesses or look at the bad things a person has done and define that person by those things.  You want people to be the best they can be but you don't ask anyone to be different.  You accept them as they are.  You never compared us sons.  I didn't feel you viewed me any less
than Tyler or Kyle.  Even though I wasn't the most skilled athlete, or the biggest, the smartest or the fastest , you never viewed me as less than then.  You just wanted me to be the best Trevor that I could be.  That means so much to me because my whole life I have tried to become like them but I feel I fall short and I get discouraged.  I sometimes don't feel I will ever be as good as my older brothers.  I'll never forget the time

after I got injured my senior year and we were talking about my knee.  I didn't know if I could continue to play football.  You showed me the Rocky Balboa quote about success and you told me to do what I could and whatever decision I made, you would be okay with it.  You taught me, dad, that I could rise above my physical limitations, even when it seemed impossible.  You helped me to learn that I could do hard things. I learned that with God's help I could do hard things and miracles could happen because I practiced that week.  Then when game day came and I blew out my knee (and needed surgery once again) you never said anything about being disappointed in me or that you thought of me as a failure.  You kept telling me how proud you were of me.  In fact, I felt like I was a failure because I never completed a season of football or became the football player that everyone thought I would be.  I was embarrassed and ashamed.  But you never looked at me like that.  You see saw me for who am and not who I am not.  Thank you, Dad.

I guess since it was Thanksgiving and I pondered on my blessings, I wanted to let you both know how I thankful I am for the blessings of having a mom and dad like you.  

On Thanksgiving Day, I played in the Ward Turkey Bowl.  I put my hair in a mohawk and then wore my white
headband- it looked pretty cool.  I was going extreme!!!  The guys all thought it was funny.  This Turkey Bowl was fun but nothing is going to compare to the McKeesport  Turkey Bowl with all those really good black athletes!  It was great getting that touchdown and being known as Gronk!   Still, this was a game with a good turnout of ward members.  I did have a ton of fun and everyone was there just to have a good time so
that was good! I got a couple of touchdowns and some good runs.  We played two-hand touch which was good because last year in McKeesport we played tackle with the black guys and I was pretty worried I was going to get injured.  This year, I didn't have that fear which is good!  After the game we washed up and went to dinner.  We just visited members that day!  We went to the L's and ate.  We just chatted with them (as you know, I love to sit and talk and laugh). Later, we did the same thing at the A's. lol  Bro. A told some cool stories.  

This week we actually weren't able to meet with any of our regular people because they were all out of town. So we found things to do and met some new people and just tried staying busy by setting up appointments.  We will see how that carries into this upcomig week!  I love you guys.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!!!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

What A Wonderful World!

Cahoon and Butikofer at Philadelphia Temple

Companions having fun

Hello my most loving and amazing family EVER and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Oh my goodness what would I do without you guys??!!!  You're always here for me and keeping me in line. I absolutely love you guys!!!!!  It's been great doing missionary work here- I absolutely love it!!!!  Everyone we see may not always accept or do what we say but that's okay, we know the message we share is true and all we can do is invite, ask people to change and improve their lives for the better.  As they do that, they will see the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for them.  I love every single person we see and work with.  They make me so happy- I truly care about them and their welfare. I'm grateful for all the experiences I've been given (good and bad) because they are shaping me into who I want to become.  I say that now but as soon as I go through something rough I sometimes forget that. hahaha

The Beautfiul Philadelphia Temple!

Sorry to hear about football Austi! That stinks bud.  Good for you for working out the day after the loss though.  You and Tyler really are a lot alike!!!  You definitely know how to work hard and do it right! Good for you!!  Such a stud.   I'm so grateful for a brother like you. No one and nothing tears us apart!!!!✊🏻 

I'm sooo jealous that you have Aunt Cami, Todd and Camille coming for Thanksgiving. I wish I could just teleport and be with you guys for the night and then return to PA!!!!!  

So you know how guys asked me what I wanted for Christmas?  I would love some ties!!!  Jerry Garcia ties, any skinny ties that have crazy cool patterns.  I would also love some pretty crazy socks.  I love socks that have multiple color schemes and have a cool pattern to it!  I like AND1 socks or stance socks but pretty much ties and socks with crazy designs!  I will also be fine with some protein for Christmas!!!  I just bought 2 new pairs of shoes that work great for winter & summer so I am good with shoes for now.  

We do have plans for Thanksgiving.  Two families wanted to feed us and we couldn't say no so we signed up for both- one for lunch the other for dinner! Hahaha So we have plenty of plans!!! We will be plenty full!  This week, let me tell you, it was an absolute miracle week!!!! We worked our butts off this week and just really tried to see a lot of people and we did!!!

Elders Cahoon and Richens (MTC Companions)

One day this week was sooo busy.  We had appointment after appointment- just biking like mad men!!!!  We got to see the twins (S, who we are shooting for the temple with, felt like she wasn't doing a good job at keeping the Sabbath Day holy.   She has a husband who watches TV and doesn't go to church so we told her that she can only control her actions not others.  We also told her that she would not be held accountable for others actions.  She felt better about that and came to church on Sunday!!!😊🤗🙌🏻 

We had exchanges after PDAY.  I was with Elder Argyle (he's been out for about 6 months).  It's super weird for me serving around Elders younger than me because I've mainly served around Elders older than me.  He's a little quiet but he is really funny.  I'm glad I got to go with him.  He is such a humble guy; I want to be humble like him.  The next day we went out and had bible study at a senior center we do service at.  I've learned a lot bible verses on my mission and sharing them is great.  I love the New Testament.  As we were reading in Romans 5, the thought came to me to share Doctrine and Covenants 121 (it talks about Joseph Smith in Liberty jail and the counsel that was given to him).  I was like "Whoa, bringing up scripture from the Book of Mormon may be iffy but Doctrine and Covenants?  These guys would not accept that."  I was pretty nervous but I gathered my courage to share it and you know what?  Most of the people there thought it was great advice and a great scripture.  They took it all very well.  I was absolutely amazed!!!! Act on promptings people!!  We had the opportunity to eat lunch with them, talk with them and get to know them better.  They shared some pretty funny stories. 

Missionaries after the All-Mission Conference

We biked down to Lemoyne to visit a family.  We knocked on the door but no one answered.  I had a prompting that we needed to talk to her neighbor whom was outside.  We talked to her, gave her a B.O.M. and asked her if she knew her neighbors.  She told us to try knocking on the back door because they can't hear in front.  So that's what we did.  The lady came to open the door immediately.  As we were talking she mentioned that she was actually upstairs right before we knocked on her door but she felt like she needed to come downstairs and when she did, that was when she heard us knocking on her back door!  A straight miracle!!!!!!! Super sweet!!! We got to talking to her about gaining a testimony and invited her to read Alma 32.

We met with another investigator that mentioned she was having trouble reading in her B.O.M. So we wrote all over her calendar "Read the B.O.M." Hahaha!!!! She thought it was hilarious.  We had a good discussion on reading the B.O.M. even with the busy schedules we have. She told us how she could keep 1 in the car and the other at home so she always had 1 with her wherever she went.  We thought that was a great idea and just cheered her on!!!!!  Most the time I catch myself just listening to people, to their situations and then helping them to recognize what they need to do.  After they make their decision I cheer them on to choose the right!  (That's in Preach My Gospel).  I was talking to Bishop and he says that's exactly what he does with people.   He's such a wise man and I've learned a lot from him.  I am grateful for him. I feel the most good we do as missionaries isn't always giving advice to people but just listening to them and guiding them to what they need to do.  The rest is up to them.  So everyone be that cheerleader! If someone's struggling, try to see where their coming from and cheer them on as they strive to do to things and keep commitments.  

The wonderful Bishop Jenkins and Sister Nelson-
Elder Cahoon served with both in Ambridge.
He ran into them when Elder
Stevenson spoke in Altoona!

We worked real hard this week and we are both super exhausted!  It's Monday and we are dead tired but we feel great for working hard!  The poster in the football locker room says it all, "the pain of hard work vs. the pain of regret." 

One last investigator story:  we met with Robert and he hadn't read out of the B.O.M. and he felt badly.  We asked him if he felt badly because he DIDN'T read out of it or because we would ask him about it.  He said he felt badly because he would tell us no he didn't read it when we came back to ask him.  I felt badly because if someone's going to read the B.O.M. I want them to read it because they want to not because their afraid of when we come back. We then shared what that the B.O.M. testifies of Jesus Christ and it helps us to come to know of Him and His truth and light.  

Ok this is the last story. lol  After Robert, we met with another investigator, Michael.  He is a kid but is already a good missionary!  He had two of his friends at the teaching appointment with him!  We even got to go on a bike ride with him because we had our next appointment in Lemoyne and he rode out with us.  On Sunday before church, Michael called us asking for a ride to church.  Bro. D, a ward member, went and picked him up!!!!!  This is the first investigator I've had come to church and be progressing since I've been here.  YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you guys.  Hope you have a great week.  Take care.  Bye!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

The Entire Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Mission!!

The High Life Is The Best Life!

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

Wow another week that just flew by!!! Can't believe it's PDAY.   Well I had a great week- a lot of miracles.   We were trying to get in and see one of our investigators on Tuesday and we had several members ready to go and an hour before he cancelled!!!  So we had an extra 2 hours and we went to try a few people. Well the first miracle that occurred:  we got back in contact with one of our investigators we had dropped- Don. We tried his trailer which looked inhabitable and knocked on his door twice. Then Sister H, a member, was at that trailer park dropping off one of her friends and to our surprise she knew the person we were trying to see. She told us he usually sleeps around this time and we just need to knock pretty loud. So what did.  We went back and Elder Butikofer basically broke down the door with his rampant knocking! Guess what happened!?!?!?! Don came to the door!!!!!  We were able to teach him a lesson and invited him again to read the B.O.M. so hopefully he will do that! He was going through a difficult time (he had just gotten out of jail)  So we shared with him the story of Nephi when he was on the boat with his brothers and they tied him up and for 3 days.  For those who don't know the story, Nephi was tied up by his brothers but instead of complaining or blaming others, he turned to God for strength and the Lord gave him the strength to break the bonds that held him.  We were able to apply that to Don by explaining to him that if he turns to God, God can help him not only get through the trial but after the trial as well.  It seems like when I teach others, while I am teaching them, I am learning things as well.  I love that!  I forgot to mention we had this teaching opportunity with Don outside in the rain hahaha!!!!  I was pretty wet cause I didn't have my rain jacket.  Luckily, Elder Butikofer had his.  I just enjoyed the rain.  It wasn't cold thank goodness! 

Then we saw a friend of ours, Nate, that night.  When we arrived at his house, he was heading out the door to go vote with his friend and his mom.  At first he wasn't going to go vote but we told him to go!  He went inside the house to grab his hoodie and his mom left without him.  Everyone else was just in shock but then my instincts kicked in and I took off in a sprint! The car is driving down the road and I'm running right behind it on the sidewalk yelling, trying to get their attention.  She takes a left and I kept on running and yelling.  Thank goodness there was a stop sign 'cause she stopped just long enough for me to reach her window.  I scared her to death!! She jumped in her seat and her face was absolutely terrified!!!!! I felt bad.   As I was going back to Nate's house, I thought about the time when I ran and snagged the iPad off of the roof of the truck.  Needless to say, I felt like a boss!!!! I still got it!  The good news is we were able to teach Nate after he voted.  We began teaching him about member missionary work as that seemed like the lesson he needed to hear but I could tell he wasn't engaged- just giving me the answers we wanted me to hear.   So then I changed topics and began to talk about his Book of Mormon reading. Then the coolest thing happened.  Elder Butikofer immediately started testifying of the Book of Mormon and Nate became engaged as well.  We talked about why it's so important that he reads from his scriptures and keeps his testimony strong.   So we will see if he read in the Book of Mormon.   

Another miracle happened when we got to see Robert.  He is a member that is always hard to catch.   We actually got to sit down and talk to him this week.  He's not too interested in talking with us and he usually tells us how he won't read or pray about the B.O.M. However, this time was different. Elder Butikofer invited him to read the BOM and he told us he would!  He has never committed to doing something before so hopefully he follows through.  

We also got to help out our good friend, Diana, (the one with all the Stark Trek stuff) unpack what we helped her pack because she was not going to move to Ohio any more.  We had pizza and the Sisters joined us so it was all a ton of fun!!!  We helped her move her couches and chairs around and I felt like I was back at Mayflower working for them.   

Hard to believe this week could get any better but it did!  We got to go to the Philadelphia Temple again!  Remember me taking our investigator Stephen to the Open House?  The Baptistery is my favorite part of the temple because he brought back many memories of Stephen because he felt the Spirit so strongly there. Stephen is such a close friend and I love him so dearly!!! He is one of my favorite people out here and I love his personality- always so nice to others.  But back to the trip this time. lol The road trip there was good (we were with the H's).  I absolutely love and adore that family.   It was great to be able to have a full day with them and laugh and share stories and joke together. I was grateful for the time that we spent with them.  While I was in the celestial room, I was trying to think about areas where I needed to improve.  I was reading in 1 Corinthians 13 and I got the impression that I need to put off the natural man if I wanted to change.   Living higher standards will help me focus on my main goals and my purpose in this life and the next life as well. That was some nice insight and revelation for me. :)  After the temple, we took pictures and toured Philadelphia for a little bit.  I can't remember everything we saw but we I did see the Liberty Bell and the museum we also saw the building that was in National Treasure.  

The day after the Temple trip, we had the opportunity to visit with Elder Stevenson, one the the 12 Apostles of the Church!!  We drove to Altoona because he actually spoke at the mission conference.  Because the whole mission got together, I was able to see my  MTC companion, Elder Richens, as well as a ton of other missionaries that I came out with!   President Johnson & Elder Stevenson were childhood friends- how crazy is that!?!?  Elder Stevenson kept referring to Pres. Johnson as "Brad" and to Sis. Johnson as "Rosie."  It was really cool.  He was laid back and I really liked that!  He made fun of President by saying how he never thought Brad would be able to catch a wonderful, beautiful woman like Rosie. hahaha  He talked about the attributes and qualities they both have and how us Elders need to marry a Rosie Miller and the Sisters need to marry a Brad Johnson. So mom don't worry, Rosie Johnson is basically you (just with black hair)!!!!😂😂😂  Dad, you and President are the exact same- even your hairline is the same!😉😏 hahaha!!!!  Then Elder Stevenson proceeded to train us missionaries. He talked a lot about teaching repentance and baptizing converts and how we are trying to help people make that next step forward in faith. He talked a lot about promised blessings.  God gives us commandments but he also attaches blessings to those commandments.  As missionaries, we need to do the same with our commitments.  Our wonderful and amazing Sister Johnson has been giving this training since I've gotten here on my mission so she's wayyyy ahead of the game.  It was a good reminder though.  I really like how we center the lesson on the commitment because it centers it on the individual and not a lesson.  I also received more impressions and insights on ways I can improve so that was wonderful.

I love you guys.  I hope you have a great week and are doing well.  Thanks for your thoughts and lessons you teach me.  My family is the best.  Love you guys.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon