I am pretty tired so I don't know how long this will be. We worked hard this week I was pleased at the amount we were able to teach this week. We had a mini zone conference this week and I got too have an interview with President Summerhays and it was short and sweet. He didn't give me any indication of whether I'm staying or going. I will find out soon enough. Transfer calls will be on monday and transfers we will all head down to Pittsburgh for transfer meeting. Just this once I think we all will come so everyone can meet each other. Thats going to be alot of missionaries probably 170. My guess is I'll be heading out but still a good chance I might stay. Too be honest I love the branch but its sometimes difficult with the area. There are not a lot of people and its so spread out. But nonethless we have been blessed these past few weeks too teach quite a bit. I think my favorite part of the week thus far was when we were able to teach M G. Elder. Bylund came on exchange with me and we taught about the Plan Of Salvation and I felt the spirit really strong and I know M did too. Its great when the spirit directs you dont even think about what you say you just let him speak for you. I really enjoyed my exchange with Brother Roberts. The reason why is because I was just so impressed with his quiet fortitude. He is poor and struggles to make ends meet, he's never been married, he pays his tithing. Yet he always comes out every month on exchange with us. He is great example of doing your duty and not complaining about it. He could make up excuses for not coming with us but he doesnt. It was just great too see his example. But I've been studying the Bible alot lately im in 2nd Chronicles. One great story I was reminded of was the story of Naaman. He had leprosy and he went to Elisha the prophet to be healed the prophet told him to go wash in the Jordan river 7 times. Naaman was wroth because he wanted Elisha to heal him right there, and if it was a river why the Jordan river so he had a bad attitude. His servants said something profound to him its found in 2nd Kings 5:13. " And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, IF THE PROPHET HAD BID THEE TO DO SOME GREAT THING, WOULDEST THOU HAVE DONE IT? HOW MUCH RATHER THEN, WHEN HE SAITH TO THEE, WASH, AND BE CLEAN?" Naaman repented and he did as Elisha directed him to do and he was healed. So to are we guilty at times of Naamans attitude. We often times think oh that wont help. I dont see how reading my scriptures, or saying my prayers, or going to church, or going to the temple could really heal me. We conjure up some miraculous way of how God will heal us yet we deny the little aspects of the healing process. God wants to see where we stand he wants us to take counsel from our heart rather then our mind so much. He wants to see how strong our faith is and whether we will trust him to do the little things to bring about great miracles. Remember the brasen serpant and how many of the Children Of Israel denied looking at it to be healed because of the simpleness of the way. We need to do the little things in order to qualify for God's trust and too secure for ourselves marvelous blessings. Im glad that this lesson was brought back to my mind because I am just as guilty as anyone. I know this gospel is true do your very best and be happy. I love you all. Elder Powell

Man we were really blessed this week.

We had three people at church, we got two real solid referals, and found a real neat couple. J came was one of the ones that came and we found him a hearing device so he could hear the talks. He has been too church three times so technically he can now be baptized. We fasted with him but his heart is not all the way into it. He has read about 150 pgs in the Book Of Mormon but he is not praying with real intent and he is just being to casual about everything. I think it will take some more time to get him ready for baptism so I dont know if he will make his July 25th date so pray for him that a mighty change of heart can come upon him. We also had J and KG come to church we found them on Friday so that was really neat. We just looked up on a hill and some some houses and said hey lets tract that street. They are looking for a church and J actually has some connections through family members with the church. I think they enjoyed it pretty well, the branch really was kind to them. Unfortunatley K had told her Dad that she would attend church with him this week but they said they would come the next week. Pray that they will feel of the spirit that it will direct them to come to our church. It was neat though we took Brother Clapper with us and he bore strong testimony and just told how he came to know the church was true. At first he was a little closed off too the message because of the bad wrap that mormons get out here. But when he oppened his heart the spirit touched him and he became converted. But our referals are both member referals one is Brother Gates brother and the other is Brother Fairs brother so thats exciting because they already have friendships with members. C was going to come to church but bailed out at the last moment and also another investigator named M S. So we almost had five at church which would've been awesome but we will settle with three, I'm happy with that haha. We weren't able too see J F this week because he has been very busy. Pray that we will have opportunities to teach him and that he will be able to come to church. Yesterday we had a mini zone conference and interviews. It was pretty good it was neat talking to President Summerhays and im excited for what will happen in the next two weeks. I bet I'll be getting transfered over Pittsburgh way. Either way though I'd like to stay because I feel that some good things will happen here in the next few months. I was really proud of the branch because the Zone Leaders showed some statistics in the Stake. It talked about member referals and member exchanges for the past few months and baptisms and guess he was near the top in all those categories the Bedford Branch. Whats really sad though is that the branches are doing more work then the wards are. When we are in our wards we need to make sure that we aren't neglecting our duties. Wards should be able to accomplish wonders but at least out here they are slacking and are not involved enough in the missionary work. Our branch sacrifices alot. The men of the priesthood basically come out at least once a month with the missionaries. Plus many have 3 or four callings. Let us never shirk from our duty. I want to leave with a thought. It was from general conference from Dieter F. Uctdorf. He remarked how there was a time when a group of men were trying to move a piano out of a room and they were struggling to find a way to get it out. Then one of the men offered a profound comment he said "Brethren stand close together and lift where you stand." As the did that they were able to accomplish that task. So it is with us if we are unified and stand close together and each do our part the lord's work will go forth more gloriously. It doesnt matter what talents we have as long as we offer them. Remember the parable of the talents one had five one had 3 and the other 1. the five and the three were rewarded evenly because they both didn't hide their talents and the one with the one talent hid it and the Lord took it away from him. Let us work for the Lord and he will work for us and shower us with blessings. I know this to be a true principle. I love you all hope you have a great week. Elder Powell

Hey everyone hope you all had a great fourth of July. We ate good on the 4th I tell you what I ate enough hot dogs and hamburgers to last a month haha. But It was a good week we were able to meet President and Sister Summerhays and to be honest it wasnt as hard to me as I thought it would be. They seem like great people although they dont seem that they will have as lively personalities as the Pugh's you could tell they have the spirit with them and they will lead us well. I feel for President Summerhays he has so much to do the next couple weeks. He basically has interviews straight for the next two weeks. Well a few changes will occur first of all this is the LAST time that you will hear from me on monday's starting next week our P-Days will change to Thursdays. They had been doing that and their reasoning for us doing it that way is so that we can get rested up right before the really effective days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That way we will have more in the tank to hit it hard at the end of the week. I personally think its a good idea although it will take some getting used too. Also there will be no more departing missionary firesides which is kind of a bummer. For transfers we will go to Pittsburgh and some of us may need to catch a greyhound to get there for me im not too far away. Also our standard of excellence for tracting was 10 hrs now it is 12 hrs but im happy to say that we got it this week as well as every week of this transfer. Also pretty sure this will be my last transfer here he said he was going to mix things up unless there was a real need to keep a companionship together. So most likely in 3 weeks ill be headed Pittsburgh way which will be fun but Bedford is really growing on me. Im starting to become real close to the members. I loved fast and testimony meeting yeterday the spirit was strong. Its just neat to hear the strength of these members and the great things they must do to keep their testimonies strong. They are so appreciative of their membership in the church even if it means they have less friends and family members that lose respect for them. I really appreciated Bro. Clappers testimony he shared his love for missionary work and how he enjoys coming out with us and learning and growing in the gospel. If only all members could have his attitude that hey I love missionary work and I love voluntering my time. He being a recent convert is a great strength to the branch. I truly do love the members in this branch. I think the coolest missionary expierence we had this week is when we were tracting we found a man named C D. His wife had just left him the pevious night and he was really struggling. It was so neat for me to be able to teach him and watch how our message was able to give him peace and greater hope. He acknowledges that he needs to get more religious and we just testified to him that Christ's Atonement was meant for our trials. To help us get through and to help us overcome and rise to new heights. I felt the Lord led us to him to give him strength in a dark time in his life. Also we set J with a baptismal date for the 25th of July. We know he still has a ways to go and we need to help him gain a testimony but he is reading from the B.O.M. Hes in 2 Nephi 20 so thats pretty good. I think more then anything we wanted to set something he could push for. Pray that he will be able to come to a witness that Joseph was a prophet of God. He needs to know that so he can have the conviction to obey the word of wisdom and to make the neccesary changes in his life. But im doing great it was a good week me and Elder Winters are working hard and we are trying to find those whom the Lord has prepared. To close I want to leave you with a quote. Its from C.S Lewis quoted in Dale E Millers talk entitled Bringing peace and Healing to your soul in the November 2004 conference. "God has an infinite attention to spare for each one of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He had ever created. When Christ died, He died for you individually just as if you had been the only man or women in the world." What a touching quote as we have in our minds the idea of our freedom. Let us remeber the ultimate source of freedom comes from ou savior Jesus Christ. It is he that can free us from any undesirable circumstance whether we bring it upon ourselves or not. It is made possible through his Atoning Sacrafice I love the Savior and I know it would all do us good to draw closer to him. I love you all and hope you have a great week.With Love Elder Powell