Lewisburg 2/23/09

Dear Family and FriendsI want to express the love i have for each one of you. I am grateful for the wonderful influences that have helped me be who I am today. Being out here helps me realize how truly blessed I am. The previous week was not very fruitful in terms of finding people. But it was wonderful in the sense that some great things happened. First off B has been coming around and has matured alot. He has done so well lately that we decided to reset him with a date. His new baptismal date is March 14th so pray that he will stay strong and continue to learn and grow. S has said that we could come back and see her which is wonderful but I think she has lost some of her fire and determination. Pray that she will see the need for the gospel and that it is what will bring her the most happiness. With all her trials she wonders if what we teach her is even helping. It made me pretty upset when I found out her doctor told her to stop meeting with us so that might be partially why she isn't as gun ho. The R family came to church and they once again had a good experience. It was a wonderful block of meetings on Sunday. It was our ward conference and the President Hoffman and Bishop Clark addressed us. Bishop talked about being prepared and getting ourselves ready for the 2nd coming. He had many great comments he is very bright I wish I would've written them down. President Hoffman gave a great talk on service and how we as a people needed to be unified. In fact that is our stake theme. "That we will be of one heart, and one mind." He refered to Elder Eyrings talk on Unity whe he said a great day of unity is coming. I learned that we all need to band together and rise above the sinking values of the world. Gods standards never change he acknowledges that these times are difficult but he has given us a voice of a prophet to follow. It is my testimony that we do have a prophet and we cannot withstand satan unless we follow him and the counsel that is directed to him through the LORD. Alot is required of us as members. I need to go but be strong I am doing great and am being blessed.With LOve Elder Powell

Lewisburg 2/17/09

Hello Family and Friends. I'm sorry I was unable to E-Mail yesterday the Library was closed due to Presidents Day. It was a good week, time really goes fast out here. Me and Elder Norton have really tried to step up and talk to everyone we see. It still takes guts to talk to strangers on the streets but its amazing when you do all within your power the Lord blesses us. Case in point; we had a wonderful family show up to church whom we had never met. They had such a wonderful time at church and the ward really stepped up and fellowshipped them. The Dad used to be an assistant pastor and at first I was a little apprehensive how their experience would go just because of his background. When I talked to him he was a humble very kind man who really is searching for the truth. Hes reading the B.O.M and he's watched alot of the Church videos and him and his family is really soaking it up. Thanks to a member who was willing to share the gospel a family has been touched. I'm really excited for the opportunity that we will have to teach them soon. We are always seeking to find families because retention is so much better when people are not alone when they join the church. What a wonderful blessing. It just goes to show that members play a huge role in missionary work. It is so much better if the members do the finding and missionaries do the teaching. Do your very best to share the gospel. It takes guts I know but think of how wonderful you will feel if you can bring somebody in and change there life for the better and invite the fullness of the gospel into their lives. We haven't heard from S but we are really going to try and contact her this week. B is doing better we will hopefully set him with a date soon. Also there are some promising people coming up. I really feel this area could really explode. We just need to give our best effort and let the Lord work in his own way and in his own timing. I can promise the greatest happiness we will feel is by living the gospel. I know when I have slacked I am not as happy. Don't let Satan decieve you. He would have you think that the gopsel is restrictive and it won't make us happy when in fact it gives us so much feedom and happiness. I have been reading from the B.O.M lately and I am learning so much. Before I would've just read pretty quickly through it but now I am taking the time and letting the spirit teach me. My scripture study has really improved. 2 reasons why #1 I'm willing to pay the price to gain more knowledge and #2 I'm writing things down which invites the spirit to give us more personal revelation because it truly shows that we really treasure learning by the spirit therefore we will be more apt to recieving more guidance. Don't take the scriptures for granted; I am starting to realize that any question we have can be answered in the scriptures if we diligently search and we live worthy of the spirits guidance. What a great gift that we all should seek after. I still am far from perfect but I want to be led more by the spirit. We will be led more often as we are obedient to lords will and if we truly want it. But I hope you all had a great week and a great Valentines. Mine was just another day with choclates as an added bonus haha. I love you all take care let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Elder Powell

Hello everyone!!
I guess ill start off with the major news. So we had a setback with S. She
has asked us not to stop by for awhile. I guess just the trials and things shes
gone through has finally caught up with her. She didn't really mourn during this
time and she tried to be the strong one in the family. Now she just wants some
time to herself to figure things out. It was dissapointing news granted but all
is not lost. She knows the things we taught were true and thats its helped her
in her life but I think she is just overwhelmed right now. I believe that in a
short while we will be teaching her again and getting her back on the road to
baptism. Ya know you never know what will happen in life especially in
missionary work. But you need to accept what comes you way and be grateful. I
feel like I can work on that. B is also not really progressing like we
would like him too but has made progress. It is hard for him to commit to things. We have had an increase in finding
which for that I am grateful. We found an unmarried couple and had a very
spiritual lesson on the Restoration. I felt it I pray that they felt it as well.
One thing that has been impressed on my mind is the need for us to fortify our
testimonies. There are so many people who fall away once adversity strikes and a
cloud of opposition comes. THere is SO much out there that is against the church
and if you havent read the B.O.M and prayed about it how can you expect to
stand. If its true which I testify it is then this church is true. If you doubt
me just look at the marvelous good that has come forth because of it. You cant
tell me that a false book and a false prophet can bring forth this much good.
THe Savior taught about this that by their fruits ye shall know them. You can
sucked up in the opposition of the church or you can ask GOd to tell you the
truth of the matter. There will be no fence sitters in the coming days we need
to make sure that we are seeking after the Lords will. There are wonderful
people of many different faiths but appreciate that we have been given more
light and understanding and do something about it. If youve recieved a spiritual
witness of a particular truth then that is enough you dont need to prove it
intelectually. Stand tall and be as the Savior would be. I just got rolling and
I dont know why I said all those things but I want you all to stay strong. It
makes me so sad to see people fall away. But I am doing good we are working
hard. THankfully we have had beautiful weather lately its supposed to be like 60
on thursday so it definetly feels like spring here. I pray that you can all be
happy. I love you all. This gospel is true

Elder POwell

Lewisburg 2/2/09

Hello family and friends this last week is just a blur it went so fast. It is now the start of a new transfer and me and Elder Norton are staying together for which im glad. We've had a good time together and we have got some good things to look forward to this transfer. I can see two possibly three baptisms coming up this transfer. Weve got a great ward that fellowships pretty well and has a good ammount of referals. A lot of the baptisms that have happened this year have resulted from the members. S wasn't able to come to church this week so we will have to push her baptism back. She strained her back and had to go to the emergency room. But i do have great news. Thank you so much for the prayers on her behalf. Truly a miracle took place this week. So as I told you before her neice was hit by a drunk driver. She flew like a hundred feet and I guess the guy was going pretty fast. They rushed her to the hospital and things didn't look good, she was in a coma, and doctors said her chances looked poor. Her father was especially struggling and S was worried that he might hurt himself. She was there as a constant support and she encouraged him to pray. He had never prayed before and he had no concept of a God. S was reading in the Book Of Mormon during this time in the hospital and she came to the story of the Alma the younger she just flipped open to it. She got to the part where it talked about how he was in a deep sleep and there was much fasting and prayer and show after three days he arose. This was an answer to her prayer and it give her peace and assurance that her niece would live again despite the bleak outlook. She had marvelous faith and me and Elder Norton fasted and all the prayers that were offered. What ensued later was a miracle so Serenas niece was hit on friday amd on monday she arose from her coma. 3 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT!!!! It happened to be right before we broke our fast. Doctors were amazed to add to that she has no brain damage the only thing is a couple bruised ribs and headaches that will go away with time. WHAT A MIRACLE!!!! As a result of this her dad now has a belief in God and this event has brought him and his wife together on the verge of a divorce. Now God didnt cause that drunk driver to hit that little girl but he was able to show his power and provide a tremedous growing expierence. I learned two valuable lessons from that expierence. 1) God can accomplish any miracle she shouldnt have lived. 2) The Book Of Mormon does provide answers to our prayers. You cant tell me that it was just coincidence that she flipped open to that passage at that particular time. And that she arose after three days just like Alma is evidence that God was speaking to Serena that things would be ok. Thank you so much for your prayers I love you all; I'm doing well. Remember to keep Heavenly Father, and the Savior close in your lives. If we have faith anything can happen. Just look at the miracle of my dad. I love you all take care. Elder Powell