Bedford 4.27.09

WowIm really expierencing a change. I got transfered out of Lewisburg to a place called Bedford. I will be with Elder Lucierini hes been out 3 months and I will be the District Leader. I am a man in the midst of the wilderness. Our area is huge. I am excited for the new responsibilities that I have but realize I will need to really rely on the Lord. I really liked Lewisburg we have three people that will be baptized this coming transfer Bedford has one I think will be baptized soon. I will be serving in my first branch which will be quite an expierence im sure. But Im doing well im going to cut it short just because I have alot to do. I love you all take care. Elder Powell

Easter truly is a wonderful time.I write with deep gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ. He sacraficed so much for us I pray we can make a renewed effort to sacrifice more for him. Me and Elder Fisher had quite a succesful week. Elder Fisher taught me a wonderul lesson of faith. So every week we set goals and this particular week Elder Fisher thought we should shoot for a much higher goal. I doubted a little just knowing that we hadnt ever come close to that mark before. But you know what we worked really hard and we achieved those goals. Its a testimony to me that if we have a vision and a will to accomplish it we can succeed. We have many people to teach now the key now will be getting them to progress. That is always the case when one truly puts forth the effort one sees the wonderful fruit of the gopsel. When one goes into it half heartedly one rarely sees the fruit. Same goes for all of us. I many times struggle doing things half heartedly and I dont yield the same results of when I go in it full board. I myself commit to do better and truly do things with more effort and not go through the motions. I truly have much to improve upon. But ya Easter was great I ate so much I broke 200 pounds for the first time haha man I gotta cut down. Oh also we went to this Ice Cream place called the Big Chill and I downed two quarts of ice cream in 8 and a half minutes. Man my mouth and stomach is still suffering haha. But it was fun The other five Elders in our district did it as well. But I just want you all to know that I love you and I hope that your life is full of happiness and fullfillment. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Love Elder Powell

Hey Family and Friends.

So some big news I will be switching missions starting July 1st. I will be apart of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission. Due to my disobedience they decided it would be best to move me to get a fresh start haha jk. But I am serious about the fact that I will no longer be apart of the Pennsylvania Harrisburg Mission. Because of the downsizing of the missions in the East the church felt that it would be best if they combined our missions. When President goes home in July thats when the change will occur. It was very shocking to me. Its just weird I was called to the PA-HBG mission and come July it will no longer exist. I really dont know what to think. It could be pretty exciting in the sense that I would have a big city in my mission which would be a change because most of my mission is rural. Plus Lake Erie is in the Pittsburgh mission as well so it will be pretty cool. Its just going to being weird integrating and now our mission will be even more huge. Basically our mission covers 80% of PA come July. There will be about 150 missionaries combined. I already know who my new mission President will President Summerhays from Salt Lake. He's been out a year so I guess it will be nice not having to break in a new Mission President. But I'm sad to see President and Sister Pugh go. But Mission Headquarters will now be in Pittsburgh so I'll be getting a new address in July. But ya that was crazy news but on to the work. I don't have much new to report. We were able to get back in contact with H which relieved me. She just was really busy these past two weeks and seems the same as she was. So we will try to get her rolling. Me and Elder Fisher plan on tracting about 17 hrs this week to see if we can find more people and find those who are prepared. Maybe thats not alot I dont know what its like in other missions. The standard of excellence here is 10 hrs a week so we are going to try and go above and beyond that and if we can find more people. But ya we are going to do our part and leave the rest to the Lord. I hope you all had an opportunity to watch conference. It was wonderful. I know that Neil L. Anderson will make a fine Apostle. It was so neat to actually to have known him before. I remember he spoke to us in a Satelite broadcast once. His testimony was so pure and his heart you can tell is what the Lord needs to bless the World. I noticed three main themes. 1) The Temple 2) Do Not Despair 3) Stand Firm in the Tide Of Evil. These are the last days and how approriate it the things that they spoke about. It is the Temple that will give us the strength and the insight to rise above what the world throws at us. We need not despair when we are doing whats right. If we aren't where we need to be then lets get there. The world makes good look evil and evil look good. We will mocked and made fun of by many as we live gospel. But we won't be ashamed of ourselves and we can stand with confidence before the Lord. Im reminded of the Song Whos on the Lord Side. It goes "Whos On the Lord Side Who Know Is The Time To show " Truly this is our time to show our loyalty to him. Things we will be hard but we must remeber the promises extended toward the faithful Saints. Truly we can look at this as the greatest time to be alive. Because we can do the most good in this time. Doors that were locked before now will be opened to missionary work. With the trials ahead your example will draw many people to you and the church. Be bold declare the Gospel and live t. I testify that if we do things will work out and we will be a great benefit to our fellowmen. I Love You All I am Doing Well

Elder Powell

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