Hey everybody it will be short but I just want to thank all of you for your kindness to me this time of year and throughout my mission. It was wonderful to call home Im so grateful that my family has been so blessed in my abscence. I continue to learn much and am always grateful for this mission expierence. I hope that all of us will make some new years resolutions that regard our spiritual growth for that is the most important phase in our growth. Maybe it could be having more meaningful prayer, reading the scriptures each day, visiting someone loneley each week, getting a 100% home teaching, actually studying our lessons beforehand and being an active participant in our lessons, maybe it could be palcing a pass along card each week, or studying PMG each week, or whatever just get a vision of where you want to improve and set aside some time. Ive found that spiritual growth filters off into all other categories of growth. I love you all hers to a great new start. Lets make the year of 2010 our best yet. Elder Powell

Well hey im pretty darn excited for the baptism coming up. Shes going strong and is commited to stay the course. The fellowship and involvement of this ward has been amazing. They ran some numbers across and the high priests group got 80% home teaching thats great can they improve yes but man think what the church could accomplish if that was the case for the whole church. My guess is its below 50% throughout the world. So if your slacking im calling you to repentance. Home teaching can change lives thats been the case with the Blackcloud family its nothin Ive done but what a faithful home teacher has done. If this work is to go forth it must be through the members. Whether it means we retain our new converts, or find the lost sheep, or bringing new people into the fold the blessing is the same. You will feel the love of God and start to recognize how important each and every person is. Im so grateful im here and for the blessings we are seeing. The ward mission leader and us are commited to filling the font each month. But Ive been reading Jesus the Christ, the New Testament, and the March 2008 special ensign on Christ. I recomend giving that to your nonmember or less active friends it is so good. Ive been learning alot and its amazing how much I forget about the Saviors life. I am convinced that if we constantly study the Saviors life we will be less apt to give in to sin, we will be more apt to love, more willinfg to serve because he exemplified all those things. My heart is full of wonder and awe over all that he did, all that he did for us, and how much he loved us. I have a long ways to go to be like him but I am so grateful for the upliftment I get when I study his life. Do your best thats what God wants from us this Christmas. I love you all Im sending out my Christmas cards tommorow hope you like them. Elder Powell

Hey everybody what a great week. We already were able to set someone for a baptismal date for Dec. 17th S B. Just so you know I'm In Dover, PA it is right above York back in the original Harrisburg Mission. Great ward, great ward mission leader alot of Part Member families we are going to work with. Its pretty close to where I was trained so thats fun. Have a good companion been out 20 months Elder Deyoung really funny guy. Hes 25 so thats crazy but we are Co- Senoirs which is good i wouldnt want to tell him what to do haha. But no we get along well. Just felt real blessed this week i really feel like the trial of my faith was St.Mary's and now the blessings seem to be numerous on the horizon. I have a testimony of love and a testimony of members reaching out. You have more influence then you realize for good or for bad. help the missionaries out and dont be dead weight. Get excited if your bored your doing something wrong the gospel is meant to be exciting. How exciting it is for me to have the opportinity to change lives and so too can you. You just have too wait patiently on the Lord after youve done your part. I love you all Talk to Mom if you have any questions about things i need. Have a good week. Elder Powell