Well hello everyone. So all my predictions were quite wrong. Haha that's why I am not the mission president. Im staying and I am getting a young missionary. His name is Elder Christensen from Hurricane, Utah I look like a giant next to him. But we had two really neat expierences the last week. Me and Elder Norton found a lady who is looking for new direction in her life and wants us to come back. We also found the most golden person I have tracted into on my mission it happened last night her name is L C. She moved up from Atlanta a year ago. I guess her son is a member down there and she loves the church and reads her B.O.M and has no problem with it. She was sad because there was no Mormon church nearby and we excitedly told her their was one and she seems so enthusistic about coming. She wants to know her purpose in life and we left her with the Plan Of Salvation pamphlet and she said she would get right down to reading it. She told us to give her a call Saturday night to make sure that she can but all in all a real cool person the Lord led us too. Also a little story on prayer so Elder Christensen locked us out of our apartment after we went to give a blessing to someone. We looked around asked the neighbors if they had ladders, they either dint or they werent home and the men in the branch were at work. I was saying a prayer in my heart like man I dont know what to do we tried everything I tried to pull myself up on the roof but to no avail. Haha but you know what happened these workers guys just happened to drive down our road and they had two ladders on their van haha what are the chances. They also happened to running ahead of schedule so we wouldnt be messing them up for a job. Call that coincidence but I call it God's tender mercy. Well the mission tour went well although the Grow's really laid it on us. When I say we you have to undersdtand that the Pittsburgh guys were quite disobedient like even alot of their Zone Leaders I feel really unimpressed with. They told us that we need to work with more urgency. It kind of was a wake up call to me for the things that I am holding back and the places that I need to improve for we only have one shot. Its the same with all of us we only have one shot to live this life to truly make a difference in the world. Alot of times we all just get to darn casual and its easy to do so. Its easy to fall in a rut and go through the motions. I know that when we truly examine ourselves and do that will benefit us in the long term will help us fing more abiding peace. I love you all. A ggod scripture to ponder. (Moroni 10:32)That is the goal and it is possible through our obedience and our reliance on Christ. Elder Powell

Well hello everyone how is it going. Things are going good here we are working really hard trying to up the area and ive realized some great blessings. Some dissapointing news at the same time B dropped herself. It was so weird too the previous day we had a good lesson and she said that when she came to know this was true she would be baptized. In her prayer she expressed her gratefulness for God sending us to her. Well the next day she called us up and said you dont need to worry about coming over I'm going to stay with my church. She said that we didn't teach the same things that her church taught. I know she must have been antied and yes its a bit discouraging. It just really teaches me that Satan is ferocious he doesnt sleep and he trys with all his might to impede the work. All is not lost though we will give her a week or too and stop and really have a heart to heart talk and resolve whatever concerns our differences she may have. Ill admit as soon as I saw the number I just felt it would be one of those calls. But we could've chose to mope around in discouragment but we decided not to please satan and went stright back to work. It was really neat we found a really neat lady named M B. Her openess was touching she said she would read and pray and if this is what God wanted for her she would follow it. We also have met some other really neat people that have warmed my soul. Its refreshing in a world of negativism to find those who give of themselves and truly understand what we should be doing in this life. We were able to see P and she said she would be coming to the addiction recovery class and btw the one last week went well two people showed up and want to come again this week. We attended church up in Kane and gave me short notice and I gave a talk on service. I felt good about it that's one of the Lord's tender mercies he has given to me and i am so grateful. K we have not been able to see for a couple weeks. But im in good spirits transfers are coming up and I dont know what's going to happen Ive been told many different things. First of all me and Elder Norton have done well together and have improved the area, but 2nd the Zone Leaders reccomended I train, and 3rd they also think there is a good chance I could go Zone leader. I personally just like being a regular old joe, although it would be really fun to train. But we will see I really have no idea. I guess tuesday Ill find out also that day we will be having a mission tour with Scott Groves in Pittsburgh im excityed for that. But one thing I want you all to do is to read in the war chapters in the B.O.M this week. You may wonder why I ask you to do such a thing. Im in them now and i am finding so many wonderful paralels to the gospel and the war against satan. Even the war chapters you can learn great truths. (Alma 40-62 roughly dont have a B.O.M handy. Got to love the book of Alma and btw Moroni is my favoite B.O.M hero. He is an example of righteousness, boldness, and unwavering obedience to the Lord and his gospel. Obedience is such a critical thing I want you to know I feel so much better when I make obedience a quest and so to will you(Mosiah 2:41) I love you all this work is true even if satan tries to manipulate that it isnt. The work will continue to go forth lets jump on the bandwagon. Find someone for the missionaries to teach. Elder Powell P.S its snowing right now haha we are supposed to get a few inches.

Man I loved conference it went so fast. I tell you though it wipes you out all the spirituality. I will talk about it in a little bit. First of all S was able to watch conference and she liked it. We had a less active come to the Priesthood session. We also found an investigator named B B who came to the afternoon sessions and she came to FHE. How cool is that. K and P have been difficult to get ahold of. My thoughts are they may have been antied that always seems to be the case. How sad that people will trust man and no0t go to God and dicover the truth of the matter. We will keep trying and if im wrong I will be glad to admit it. We just got to keep going forward and find those who will have an open heart. This friday we will be holding and addiction recovery program at our branch and the Moons will be presenting it. We hope to get about 5 people their which will be great because alot of times the hold up for investigators and less actives is addictions. Take away the addictions you take away the shame and replace it with confidence and vision that truly it pays to choose the right. But ya things are going pretty well. But back to conference It was all great I noticed a few main things. 1) Keep the commandments. 2) Love 3)Go out and serve others 4) The world is abonding its values dont abandon ours. I really enjoyed Jeffrey R. Hollands talk. He expressed how God has counteracted against satan's mists of darkness. His weapon the B.O.M. He expressed how in the very moment that Joseph couldve delivered himself by doing one simple thing deny the B.O.M. Yet he didnt. He expressed would he blaspheme at that moment about a Book. If it was a book written by him certainly he wouldve confessed that it was his hand and not God's hand. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by to stick to his guns that the book was of divine origin. He knew that God had called him to this work and was willing to die for the B.O.M. I loved how Jeffrey R.Holland said I give my name to the world. In a very real sense he was saying the same thing I will die for the B.O.M because I know it's true. The witnesses did that as well they were willing to lose their respect, their jobs, their family, and even their lives and why? Because they knew that they couldnt for great are the blessings to those who stand for truth. I hope I could say that I would be willing to die for the truth. The more we immerse ourselves in truth the more we lose the grips of the world and the more we can say YES it's better to face persecution then to give in to fear and deny our testimonies. If our testimonies arent as strong as wed like them to be then open up the fruit of the Restoration the B.O.M. In it it conatins a living testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Combined with the Bible and the words of living prophets we will not be decieved if we treasure up. I know that htese men are inspired and that they are true diciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why else would they give up their careers, their free time, their energy, their personal pursuits and basically all to serve the Lord. That should be evidence enough that this work is true. I leave my testimony that this gospel is true be strong and reach out in love to all. Elder Powell

Hey Im doing wellUnfortunatley I dont have long to write im sorry. A guy in our branch is going to take us Elk Viewing in about 30 minutes so that will be fun. I guess from what Ive heard Elk County where I reside is home to the the only natural Elk herd east of the missippi. But im finally starting to kick my cold not 100% but getting there. I tell you it was annoying but im excited to work hard again. Had some good success in terms of we have bout 5 or 6 people who have commited to come out to conference so that will be great. I am SOOOOO!!!!!! excited for conference and hope you are too. How blessed we are to have men that can guide through these somewhat tumultous times. I know every time I hear God's prohets speak I am filled with the spirit. It gives me motivation to improve and a hope that I can accomplish the purposes that God has for us even when it is hard to do so. One thing I would recomend is a study journal and also come with questions and expect the Lord to answer them. Invite your freinds, less actives, whoever it will be great I love you all. Take care and prepare yourselves for conference Elder Powell