Lewisburg 1/26/09

Greetings from Lewisburg,PA. I am doing well; we didnt have a very successful week but S has remained strong. She had another big trial. Her neice was hit by a drunk a driver and is in critical condition. It seems as if Satan is working very hard on her but she hasn't faltered. Her family is devasted, this comes after her brothers death a week ago. She is a rock and has turned to the Lord. Her example has influenced the lives of family and friends and they are becoming better people as a result. I am so proud of her but she is in need of our prayers. I hope we can all be brave and face our challenges head on. The Church is true and through Jesus Christ we can recieve strength. I love you all take care. Elder Powell

Lewisburg 1/20/09

So Im writing on a Tuesday because yesterday was Martin Luther King Day and the Libraries were closed. Thank you so much for the cards and kind words that you sent for my Birthday. I can't believe that I am no longer a teenager...haha, it is so weird. But thanks again. This past week was wonderful. I really enjoyed my exchange with a brand new Elder. It was crazy he reminded me so much of myself at the begining of his mission. It was a different expierence for me to basically pull all the weight but I really appreciated his humility. It was fun, we worked hard and we were able to find a new investigator. The greatest part of the week was what transpired with our investigator S. Me and Elder Jensen the newbie went over to her house on Tuesday and we had a wonderful visit. She said she would be baptized on Valentines Day and agreed to pay tithing. Now to the hard part we knew she smoked but we proceeded to teach the Word Of Wisdom and she committed to give up smoking and stop drinking tea. We asked her to give us the cigarettes that night to remove the temptation but she couldn't. We asked her if the next time we came if she would give them to us she said yes. The following day her brother passed away due partly to drugs. I talked on the phone with her and offered counsel. She didn't question her faith in God but she questioned how he could let this happen. I went on to talk about agency and how Heavenly Father would love to step in sometimes but he can't because that would destroy the plan. He gives us the opportunity to make our own choices to allow us to grow and then we must accept the consequences. I told her that Satan tries very hard to have us question our faith in God and his son Jesus Christ. He wants to isolate us from the only lasting help that we can have especially in times of tragedy. I told her to turn to God and not push him away to ask for understanding and peace. On Friday we went back and just talked with her awhile about her brother and about the Savior and the healing aspects of his Atonement. I wasn't sure if she would still stay true to her commitment because alot of times people turn to addictive behaviors to numb the pain. I was so proud of her as she handed us her last two cigarettes. She said that her brothers death really opened her eyes to the fact that if she smoked it could be her last breath. The next couple days were very hard on her and Satan was working doubletime on her. She was very unstable emotionally and she almost gave in to smoking and drinking but she turned to God instead. She said she has never prayed so much in her life. God gave her strength to overcome. I am so proud of her she stood strong even when she faced terrible temptations when it would've been very easy to give in. She feels so good that she didn't give in. Her influence not only has spread to us but also to members of her family and associates she has. They have noticed a change in her and also the great strength she possessed because God was on her side. Many are taking a greater interest in religion and S has already her family to the baptism. I think much good will come out of her great example. Pray for her continued strength. I pray that we will all turn to God in our afflictions and that we will be strong enough to degeat Satan and his temptations. If we choose to overcome then we choose to invite Gods spirit in our lives. Greater self worth and greater strength will follow. We will be able to feel Gods love more and be able to see clearly. I love you all take care Love Elder Powell

LEWISBURG/1-12-09‏

Hello family and friends cross your fingers that this E-Mail doesnt get deleted. I am doing really well here in Lewisburg. Although we arent finding as many investigators as we would like we are being blessed with the investigators that we do have. S is doing well and is really excited about learning. She came to church and loved it. She also came to a baptism that the other Elders had and it was a positive experience. We are going to be setting her with a date on Tuesday as well as teach the Word Of Wisdom. That day I actually will be on exchange with a brand new missionary. He's only been out three weeks. This will be the first time that i will be the old one in a companionship, haha weird. It will be awesome because new missionaries are so teachable and just have a great spirit. Although I suspect I will probably be doing most of the teaching. Instead of teaching it maybe I should just go and grab her cigarettes and say no more and then be done with it haha jk. But ya, I'm excited. B is doing well also he is improving with the things he's struggled with and he just seems to be maturing and more light has come into his life. Those are the main two all the others we either struggle contacting or they aren't too solid. We are tracting over ten hours every week but we cant seem to build our teaching pool. I think when the college kids come back this week we might have more success. But we had Zone Conference two weeks ago it was great. It focused alot on the proclamation to the family. We need to protect our families and not support things that would degrade the family unit that God established. President Pugh is actually out of the mission right now for surgery. Pray for him that his surgery goes well and that he has a speedy recovery. We are going to fast for him as a mission on Tuesday.I have no idea what kind of surgery it is but we want him back as soon as we can as well as Sister Pugh. I am doing great I hope you are too. I have testimony that if you go to work for the Lord he will go to work for you. He waits at the door and we must open the door. We must accept him and his will for us. Be humble, don't question Gods commands just do them. I love my Savior, and my loving Heavenly Father. I love you as well take care. Elder Powell