Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Email Monday Sept. 28 2009
Hey yalll's, how yals doin today?
Things are finally getting back to normal here. There are some roads that are going to be closed for months that make things difficult but for the most part the storm crap is finally over. I haven't made it to get my flu shot yet. We've been really busy. This is basically the first P'day in 2 weeks for us because of the storm last week. It's definitely cooled down a bit. It's 85 around there most of the time, combined with the humidity makes it feel like 95 but a lot better. Most of the trees don't change colors here but there is this wild vine that grows here called kutzoo that grows up the tree's and just completely covers it and then spreads to others so some parts are just complete canopy's of kutzoo and that vine turns an ugly brown dirt color that looks really ugly. The other times of the year it's actually really really cool, makes the tree's look like people trying to break out of molds or something, but it's starting to get ugly. The people hate it cause it kills everything it touches after 4-5 years. We're done doing all the disaster clean up. We helped a man named Ray Simmons on Tuesday clean out his garage the was filled to neck high water. He lost everything in it including his 08 Dodge truck and his wife's Honda. Ray was like 70 ish, and was a good ole' country boy. Spoke with the thickest accent I've heard around here. He was so funny, not knowing he was funny. Just his stories he told us bout' dem good ole' days were to just too much for me. He promised to let the English elders in when they came next time. That garage was just unbelievably bad, took us some time. He told us when we left 'I sure 'preeciate yall marmin boyz dune all dis fer meh, woulda taken me n my wife weeks ta du all dat. N'it sure does lookalot gooder dan it dit before.' Good ole' country Ray. I won't soon forget that guy. Out investigators keep getting closer. We have two w/ dates at the end of the month for baptism. And we have to couples that have committed to get married, hopefully dates for the marriage and baptisms this week. Dunno if I'll be here to see them but man I've come to love these people we're teaching! I just want them to have this so bad! Anyways, take care love you all. I'll be on for a sec here. BTW Laurie richey sent me a package with some stuff. She's fetchin awesome! No news on the visa... weird i really thought i would have by now. You think you want to know when i'm going? Think about me... I'm just in limbo over here. Oh well, my comps are sweet and i have nothing to complain about so I'm taking it day by day. Moroni 8:3! Love you!
Elder Campbell
Things are finally getting back to normal here. There are some roads that are going to be closed for months that make things difficult but for the most part the storm crap is finally over. I haven't made it to get my flu shot yet. We've been really busy. This is basically the first P'day in 2 weeks for us because of the storm last week. It's definitely cooled down a bit. It's 85 around there most of the time, combined with the humidity makes it feel like 95 but a lot better. Most of the trees don't change colors here but there is this wild vine that grows here called kutzoo that grows up the tree's and just completely covers it and then spreads to others so some parts are just complete canopy's of kutzoo and that vine turns an ugly brown dirt color that looks really ugly. The other times of the year it's actually really really cool, makes the tree's look like people trying to break out of molds or something, but it's starting to get ugly. The people hate it cause it kills everything it touches after 4-5 years. We're done doing all the disaster clean up. We helped a man named Ray Simmons on Tuesday clean out his garage the was filled to neck high water. He lost everything in it including his 08 Dodge truck and his wife's Honda. Ray was like 70 ish, and was a good ole' country boy. Spoke with the thickest accent I've heard around here. He was so funny, not knowing he was funny. Just his stories he told us bout' dem good ole' days were to just too much for me. He promised to let the English elders in when they came next time. That garage was just unbelievably bad, took us some time. He told us when we left 'I sure 'preeciate yall marmin boyz dune all dis fer meh, woulda taken me n my wife weeks ta du all dat. N'it sure does lookalot gooder dan it dit before.' Good ole' country Ray. I won't soon forget that guy. Out investigators keep getting closer. We have two w/ dates at the end of the month for baptism. And we have to couples that have committed to get married, hopefully dates for the marriage and baptisms this week. Dunno if I'll be here to see them but man I've come to love these people we're teaching! I just want them to have this so bad! Anyways, take care love you all. I'll be on for a sec here. BTW Laurie richey sent me a package with some stuff. She's fetchin awesome! No news on the visa... weird i really thought i would have by now. You think you want to know when i'm going? Think about me... I'm just in limbo over here. Oh well, my comps are sweet and i have nothing to complain about so I'm taking it day by day. Moroni 8:3! Love you!
Elder Campbell
Pictures in Georgia
Outside our apartment
Humphreys, me, Carnley at the Hindu temple
Sunday dinner at member Juan Carlos's. Humphreys making sopas
Avacado shakes!!
Lilburn fair
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Yeah, an Email!!!
Family!
I'm alive, just so you all know. The weather has been ubsurd here! It's seriously just reminded me of Katrina. I know its not near that bad but the roads have been closed and the internet down for days. I got special permission to write today from the mission pres thanks to your email to them yesterday. We've been doing some disaster clean up help the past few days. A lot of people we've talked to say they haven't seen a storm like that in 20 years here. We went to a members trailor monday and he was very lucky to get everything saved. I have pictures i'm going to try and send! Houses completely up to the roof in water! So sad! I have so much i want to write but we're at the public library and under a 30 minute rule again. Seems like the mtc. Monday i'll have a lot more time. Looks like you should be good to send me letters in the mail if they get here by next week. I am thinking i should be able to call once i get my visa but i'm not completely sure. Just kind of in limbo here.! We've found a few new investigators and have had some really really good lessons. I hope i'll be here to see a baptism because there are about 5-6 or six that we have got lined up since i've been here. Just an fyi, the day the storm hit we lost our car to repairs. We we're walking the streets when it hit, water up to our knees everything in my backpack completely 100% ruined. Scriptures and all. Really depressing! Better scriptures than our house! (which happens to be flooded but still livable). Be thankful what you have back home. If you think you have it bad think of what these people are going through here! No house, no job, no where to go. It's sad, and we're trying our best to give them the one thing that can save them! As for some little details yes we cook breakfast and lunch on our own. Dinner is always with a member. We have washer and a dryer for our laundry. I'm sending a package home with a bunch of things including my xd card (i found my other one) still cant seem to loose that habit of loosing everything. I love you all, read Moroni 8:3. I have a lot more to write you back about but it'll have to be Monday! Love ya all
Elder Campbell
I'm alive, just so you all know. The weather has been ubsurd here! It's seriously just reminded me of Katrina. I know its not near that bad but the roads have been closed and the internet down for days. I got special permission to write today from the mission pres thanks to your email to them yesterday. We've been doing some disaster clean up help the past few days. A lot of people we've talked to say they haven't seen a storm like that in 20 years here. We went to a members trailor monday and he was very lucky to get everything saved. I have pictures i'm going to try and send! Houses completely up to the roof in water! So sad! I have so much i want to write but we're at the public library and under a 30 minute rule again. Seems like the mtc. Monday i'll have a lot more time. Looks like you should be good to send me letters in the mail if they get here by next week. I am thinking i should be able to call once i get my visa but i'm not completely sure. Just kind of in limbo here.! We've found a few new investigators and have had some really really good lessons. I hope i'll be here to see a baptism because there are about 5-6 or six that we have got lined up since i've been here. Just an fyi, the day the storm hit we lost our car to repairs. We we're walking the streets when it hit, water up to our knees everything in my backpack completely 100% ruined. Scriptures and all. Really depressing! Better scriptures than our house! (which happens to be flooded but still livable). Be thankful what you have back home. If you think you have it bad think of what these people are going through here! No house, no job, no where to go. It's sad, and we're trying our best to give them the one thing that can save them! As for some little details yes we cook breakfast and lunch on our own. Dinner is always with a member. We have washer and a dryer for our laundry. I'm sending a package home with a bunch of things including my xd card (i found my other one) still cant seem to loose that habit of loosing everything. I love you all, read Moroni 8:3. I have a lot more to write you back about but it'll have to be Monday! Love ya all
Elder Campbell
Didn't get an email Monday????
I have been worried since I haven't heard from Carson in over a week. I've prayed and know that he is OK but as a mom I had to send an email to the Pres. wife just to know he was OK..... this was her reply.....
He's fine. I just called him on the phone and he said the mission office emails were down Monday...and, today, they went to the library to email home but the wait was 1-1/2 hours, and they couldn't waste that much time. We've had lots of flooding here the past few days...schools have been out for 2 days because of it...and tomorrow should be better. He said look for an email sometime tomorrow.
Visa has not come through yet...he'll let you know...
No worries...but I understand what you're going through! Usually, there's a good reason, unless they've fallen into a pattern of not writing home...which we need to know about!
Thanks for the email...take care...you're no bother...
Sister King
He's fine. I just called him on the phone and he said the mission office emails were down Monday...and, today, they went to the library to email home but the wait was 1-1/2 hours, and they couldn't waste that much time. We've had lots of flooding here the past few days...schools have been out for 2 days because of it...and tomorrow should be better. He said look for an email sometime tomorrow.
Visa has not come through yet...he'll let you know...
No worries...but I understand what you're going through! Usually, there's a good reason, unless they've fallen into a pattern of not writing home...which we need to know about!
Thanks for the email...take care...you're no bother...
Sister King
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Email Monday Sept. 14 2009
Hellllllooo!
So another week come and gone. Weeks go by so fast out here it is ridiculous.... I've never experienced time going to fast no joke. Days however seem like eternity, waking up @ 6:30, working alll day then finally going to bed by 10:30 (if we're lucky). A normal day goes a little like this
6:30-7:30 Wake up, Work Out and Prep
7:30-8 Breakfast
8-10 Comp and Personal Study
10-11 Language Study
11-12 Lunch
12-6 Out the Door, Prosylite (can't spell it lo siento)
6-7 Dinner Apt
7-9 Prosylite
9-10:30 Shower, Plan for next day
P-day is different obviously i'll write about that next time. For anyone else that wants to write me i'd say email is probably the safest AFTER this week. I got an email from headquarters saying that my 'promisa' is in and they are sending it to me to sign it. It's the last document they need for the visa. After i sign it they send it to Argentina, then they send the visa back. So looks like i'm about 2-3 weeks out. We don't have a time limit here on the computers. I'm serving in the closest area to the mission office and home. I'm in the Stone Mtn- Spanish Speaking Area. We cover Lilburn, Snellville, Norcross, Lawrenceville areas. Basically three english speaking districts cover our one spanish speaking. Thats why we have a car. It's about..... 30-40 minutes end to end. We had a pretty good week. We have found 2 new investigators and have 2 families that are progressing. The one still has the whole marriage epidemic they are deciding on. The mom really loves the church and they have come every sunday for the last month. Ugh, i wish they'd just tie the knot! We go out and give blessings probably every other day, there are a lot of members in our small branch struggling financially, and health wise. You think it's bad back home economicly? Think again. The main employer of our area was a GM assembly plant. It's huge, covers 10-20 square miles of land i'd guess. It closed last month. You'd think it'd really help with the missionary work but we're not seeing it quite yet. We have a lot of single women and their kids that are interested in the church and want to be baptised but they have their former legally wed husband back in mexico that they haven't seen in 10 years and don't know their where'abouts. It's crushing.... but we can't baptise them. We get fed every night for dinner. We have a small struggling spanish branch here but out of the 8 or 9 really super active familes, they all just want to feed us. Allll the time haha. They compete for who has the best meals, like when we leave they always ask if it was better than the night before so they can brag at church. It's great. Hispanics for the most part are so humble! They live so much different than we do, it's neat to see things from other peoples perspective. It's funny to see how ridiculous of a language English is now that i'm learning Spanish. We don't make sense, and it's so hard to Hispanics to learn. We teach a few families English lessons. Good way to get in the house and gain their trust. We also are told by Pres King to play as much soccer as our investigators want to play. We're totally happy with that! It really is interesting though how we can find a field full of Hispanics playing, join them and really just have them accept us! We're finding investigators that way a lot. We go every saturday night. Anyways we live in Norcross officially. We're really closer to Lilburn. If you go on Google Earth you can type in Parkview High school and the church is right next to the school. Oh another note speaking of their high schools. They're fetchin hugeeeeee!!!!!! Their sports facilities just kill me. I'd have killed a man to have their facilities. They basically all play in Stewart Stadium. luxury press boxes, kentucky blue grass, huge megatrons on both sides of the field. Bowl seating on some. it's just ridiculous. Parkview has the number 1 ranked girls soccer program in america. (i thought mike and tash would be interested in this.) They have 8 kentucky blue grass, beautifully manicured soccer fields on their school campus. The sinners always have huge tourneys every sunday but wow what a spectical. I'll take some pictures. They're all lit too. Anways i'm good, luckly haven't been sick! I'll get the flu shot. Love you all, stay safe and say your prayers. If your feeling like your having a tough time go ahead and read D&C 121:7-8.
Elder Campbell
P.S - I lost on of my xd cards so i don't dare send it home. i'm going to try and attach some pics!
I sent a letter to you today about some other stuff. my shoes got ripped, well one did and they are about done anyways. Those black nikes that i've had for a few years. So i need to get some, dunno if i should wait till Argentina or get some quality ones here. Also dunno what i should do about the whole xd card deal......
So another week come and gone. Weeks go by so fast out here it is ridiculous.... I've never experienced time going to fast no joke. Days however seem like eternity, waking up @ 6:30, working alll day then finally going to bed by 10:30 (if we're lucky). A normal day goes a little like this
6:30-7:30 Wake up, Work Out and Prep
7:30-8 Breakfast
8-10 Comp and Personal Study
10-11 Language Study
11-12 Lunch
12-6 Out the Door, Prosylite (can't spell it lo siento)
6-7 Dinner Apt
7-9 Prosylite
9-10:30 Shower, Plan for next day
P-day is different obviously i'll write about that next time. For anyone else that wants to write me i'd say email is probably the safest AFTER this week. I got an email from headquarters saying that my 'promisa' is in and they are sending it to me to sign it. It's the last document they need for the visa. After i sign it they send it to Argentina, then they send the visa back. So looks like i'm about 2-3 weeks out. We don't have a time limit here on the computers. I'm serving in the closest area to the mission office and home. I'm in the Stone Mtn- Spanish Speaking Area. We cover Lilburn, Snellville, Norcross, Lawrenceville areas. Basically three english speaking districts cover our one spanish speaking. Thats why we have a car. It's about..... 30-40 minutes end to end. We had a pretty good week. We have found 2 new investigators and have 2 families that are progressing. The one still has the whole marriage epidemic they are deciding on. The mom really loves the church and they have come every sunday for the last month. Ugh, i wish they'd just tie the knot! We go out and give blessings probably every other day, there are a lot of members in our small branch struggling financially, and health wise. You think it's bad back home economicly? Think again. The main employer of our area was a GM assembly plant. It's huge, covers 10-20 square miles of land i'd guess. It closed last month. You'd think it'd really help with the missionary work but we're not seeing it quite yet. We have a lot of single women and their kids that are interested in the church and want to be baptised but they have their former legally wed husband back in mexico that they haven't seen in 10 years and don't know their where'abouts. It's crushing.... but we can't baptise them. We get fed every night for dinner. We have a small struggling spanish branch here but out of the 8 or 9 really super active familes, they all just want to feed us. Allll the time haha. They compete for who has the best meals, like when we leave they always ask if it was better than the night before so they can brag at church. It's great. Hispanics for the most part are so humble! They live so much different than we do, it's neat to see things from other peoples perspective. It's funny to see how ridiculous of a language English is now that i'm learning Spanish. We don't make sense, and it's so hard to Hispanics to learn. We teach a few families English lessons. Good way to get in the house and gain their trust. We also are told by Pres King to play as much soccer as our investigators want to play. We're totally happy with that! It really is interesting though how we can find a field full of Hispanics playing, join them and really just have them accept us! We're finding investigators that way a lot. We go every saturday night. Anyways we live in Norcross officially. We're really closer to Lilburn. If you go on Google Earth you can type in Parkview High school and the church is right next to the school. Oh another note speaking of their high schools. They're fetchin hugeeeeee!!!!!! Their sports facilities just kill me. I'd have killed a man to have their facilities. They basically all play in Stewart Stadium. luxury press boxes, kentucky blue grass, huge megatrons on both sides of the field. Bowl seating on some. it's just ridiculous. Parkview has the number 1 ranked girls soccer program in america. (i thought mike and tash would be interested in this.) They have 8 kentucky blue grass, beautifully manicured soccer fields on their school campus. The sinners always have huge tourneys every sunday but wow what a spectical. I'll take some pictures. They're all lit too. Anways i'm good, luckly haven't been sick! I'll get the flu shot. Love you all, stay safe and say your prayers. If your feeling like your having a tough time go ahead and read D&C 121:7-8.
Elder Campbell
P.S - I lost on of my xd cards so i don't dare send it home. i'm going to try and attach some pics!
I sent a letter to you today about some other stuff. my shoes got ripped, well one did and they are about done anyways. Those black nikes that i've had for a few years. So i need to get some, dunno if i should wait till Argentina or get some quality ones here. Also dunno what i should do about the whole xd card deal......
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monday September 7, 2009
Holllllllllaaaaaa!!!!!!
I feel like i haven't heard from you all in so so sos so forever long. I'm trying to get used to not getting the dear elders everyday it's been tough! It makes it a little easier to focus on the work so i suppose it's good but i do miss you all twice as bad unfortunately.
So the airport was a fiasco!! We get on the 6 50 flight to Denver and @ 6 45 some security guys come on the plane all angry and say we need passenger Campbell off the plane immediately, we've found something in your bag we need to discuss. So they pull us off the plane and we watch our flight take off. I asked the guy "Is it illegal to carry scriptures or white shirts cause thats all i got man." he laughed and said he didn't know anything just that i needed to be off the plane and brought to the front counter of Delta. So we walk up and they tell them who i am. The lady covers her face and says "I said we need passenger Gamble, not passenger Campbell." Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... my bags went to Denver w/o me!! As did Elder Millers. They apologized a million times and put us on a direct to atlanta like an hour later. They called Denver International and got our luggage re-directed and it ended up beating us there. We had to call church headquarters but everything turned out well. Just a little hecktic yeah! I've decided i don't believe in coincedences though. On the flights we were schedualed on me and elder miller sat together, and on the direct to atlanta we were separated. I had the opportunity to talk for about 3 hours to a lady from Hawaii who'd never heard of our church before. She totally just told me about her whole family situation before we even spoke about the gospel. She was sad because he family had moved away and she didn't know what she had to do in this life to keep her family together. If your thinking what i was thinking, perfect segway into our message right?! Haha it was totally sweet, and low and behold the only pass a long card i got in my church travel itinerary was in bold letters accross the front 'Strengthening Your Family' and a free offer for a dvd on it. Totally from up high, it was almost unreal!
I told you all about the train story so i won't write about that. We came back that night and spent a night at the Kings (mish pres), then the next morning we had the transfer meeting and got to meet my new companions! Yes plural, in case i need to leave mid week they are keeping me in a three man companionship. Elder Humphries (Bear Lake, ID) has been out 11 monthes, and Elder Carnley (South Jordan, UT). Awesome guys, we have so much fun with each other. And we work hard. I never imagined the mission being this fun, yet i had never imagined it being this hard. Everyday goes minute by minute as far as your mood and phyche go. One minute what we think to be a golden investigator flakes on us never to be seen, and as we walk out of the apartment complex we meet 3 new people. It seriously is hard on the mente! (mind) But it's all good. This mission is different for the spanish speakers because we have to weed through the english speakers to find the hispanics. When we find them about 90 percent are illegal (which is ok they can still join the church), but they almost all are seemingly just bunked up with their so called 'esposa' (spouse), and 3-6 kids. The problem is that they aren't actually legally 'esposas'. So frustrating! You have to be married if your living with someone to be baptised. It's hard for them to understand because thats just how it is for them ya know? They're not dating, seeing other people. Most of them have been together since they were 14 but we just cant do it unless they are willing to get married. We are teaching a family names the Ortiz's. A family of four, and they love what we teach them. Our two lessons last week were so good. So spiritual, and they've come to church the last 3 weeks. They want to be baptised, and we found out sunday that they are not really married. Such a downer, but we're working with them and i truely believe they'll be willing to do paperwork for marriage. I pray they will, we'll see them wednesday. Last night was a night i'll never forget. We went to a boy names Erik's house. He is 17 an was baptised 3-4 weeks ago. He hasn't come to church the last 2 weeks because his mom won't bring him. (he is the only member in the family) So we went over to see what was up. As we sat there on their completely broken couch, in this completely old apartment that 6 people are living in I looked around and saw Elder Humphries sitting with Erik talking to him in deep conversation, I looked over at Elder Carnely and he was talking to Laticia (eriks mom), and i was sitting on the floor talking to Brenda (Eriks 10 yr old sister). 3 lessons happening at the same time in that little tiney apartment, and the spirit in the room was like ground shaking!!!!! I thought to myself wow..... this is what it's all about. Laticia was listening to everything Elder Carnely was saying like really intently, she's going to come to church next week as is Brenda. She said she thinks she wants to be baptised but i told her she needed to pray and i taught her how. We'll see how it goes but i don't think i'll ever forget the feeling in that room last night. It was incredible. I have a few other stories, but not enough time to write em. They include watching the Salvadors (investigators) catching two rabbits in their backyard, killing them, and roasting them over their grill. Right in the middle of our soccer game we were playing with them mind you. Mid game they saw them and chased em down. Talk about living off the land yeah?! They're so happy and have so little, we have nothing to complain about! Anyways I love you all, keep readin your scriptures! The good book is true! Talk to ya next week, send some cartas! (letters)
Te Quiero!
Elder Campbell
I feel like i haven't heard from you all in so so sos so forever long. I'm trying to get used to not getting the dear elders everyday it's been tough! It makes it a little easier to focus on the work so i suppose it's good but i do miss you all twice as bad unfortunately.
So the airport was a fiasco!! We get on the 6 50 flight to Denver and @ 6 45 some security guys come on the plane all angry and say we need passenger Campbell off the plane immediately, we've found something in your bag we need to discuss. So they pull us off the plane and we watch our flight take off. I asked the guy "Is it illegal to carry scriptures or white shirts cause thats all i got man." he laughed and said he didn't know anything just that i needed to be off the plane and brought to the front counter of Delta. So we walk up and they tell them who i am. The lady covers her face and says "I said we need passenger Gamble, not passenger Campbell." Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... my bags went to Denver w/o me!! As did Elder Millers. They apologized a million times and put us on a direct to atlanta like an hour later. They called Denver International and got our luggage re-directed and it ended up beating us there. We had to call church headquarters but everything turned out well. Just a little hecktic yeah! I've decided i don't believe in coincedences though. On the flights we were schedualed on me and elder miller sat together, and on the direct to atlanta we were separated. I had the opportunity to talk for about 3 hours to a lady from Hawaii who'd never heard of our church before. She totally just told me about her whole family situation before we even spoke about the gospel. She was sad because he family had moved away and she didn't know what she had to do in this life to keep her family together. If your thinking what i was thinking, perfect segway into our message right?! Haha it was totally sweet, and low and behold the only pass a long card i got in my church travel itinerary was in bold letters accross the front 'Strengthening Your Family' and a free offer for a dvd on it. Totally from up high, it was almost unreal!
I told you all about the train story so i won't write about that. We came back that night and spent a night at the Kings (mish pres), then the next morning we had the transfer meeting and got to meet my new companions! Yes plural, in case i need to leave mid week they are keeping me in a three man companionship. Elder Humphries (Bear Lake, ID) has been out 11 monthes, and Elder Carnley (South Jordan, UT). Awesome guys, we have so much fun with each other. And we work hard. I never imagined the mission being this fun, yet i had never imagined it being this hard. Everyday goes minute by minute as far as your mood and phyche go. One minute what we think to be a golden investigator flakes on us never to be seen, and as we walk out of the apartment complex we meet 3 new people. It seriously is hard on the mente! (mind) But it's all good. This mission is different for the spanish speakers because we have to weed through the english speakers to find the hispanics. When we find them about 90 percent are illegal (which is ok they can still join the church), but they almost all are seemingly just bunked up with their so called 'esposa' (spouse), and 3-6 kids. The problem is that they aren't actually legally 'esposas'. So frustrating! You have to be married if your living with someone to be baptised. It's hard for them to understand because thats just how it is for them ya know? They're not dating, seeing other people. Most of them have been together since they were 14 but we just cant do it unless they are willing to get married. We are teaching a family names the Ortiz's. A family of four, and they love what we teach them. Our two lessons last week were so good. So spiritual, and they've come to church the last 3 weeks. They want to be baptised, and we found out sunday that they are not really married. Such a downer, but we're working with them and i truely believe they'll be willing to do paperwork for marriage. I pray they will, we'll see them wednesday. Last night was a night i'll never forget. We went to a boy names Erik's house. He is 17 an was baptised 3-4 weeks ago. He hasn't come to church the last 2 weeks because his mom won't bring him. (he is the only member in the family) So we went over to see what was up. As we sat there on their completely broken couch, in this completely old apartment that 6 people are living in I looked around and saw Elder Humphries sitting with Erik talking to him in deep conversation, I looked over at Elder Carnely and he was talking to Laticia (eriks mom), and i was sitting on the floor talking to Brenda (Eriks 10 yr old sister). 3 lessons happening at the same time in that little tiney apartment, and the spirit in the room was like ground shaking!!!!! I thought to myself wow..... this is what it's all about. Laticia was listening to everything Elder Carnely was saying like really intently, she's going to come to church next week as is Brenda. She said she thinks she wants to be baptised but i told her she needed to pray and i taught her how. We'll see how it goes but i don't think i'll ever forget the feeling in that room last night. It was incredible. I have a few other stories, but not enough time to write em. They include watching the Salvadors (investigators) catching two rabbits in their backyard, killing them, and roasting them over their grill. Right in the middle of our soccer game we were playing with them mind you. Mid game they saw them and chased em down. Talk about living off the land yeah?! They're so happy and have so little, we have nothing to complain about! Anyways I love you all, keep readin your scriptures! The good book is true! Talk to ya next week, send some cartas! (letters)
Te Quiero!
Elder Campbell
Saturday, September 5, 2009
I've arrived in the Gerogia Atlanta North Mission
Sept 1, 2009
Wow, after a fiasco @ the airport we're finally here. I'll write you more about it next week on p-day. It's super humid I haven't stopped sweatin. We got our luggage and met Pres & Sister King. Wonderful people! As we put our luggage in the trailor Pres took us back into the airport to the train station. He popped open a box of BOM's & pamphlets & pass a long cards W/ a one way ticket to the end of line. He said "Don't come back w/ any of this, I'll meet you on the other side of town". Holy crap, I about crapped my pants! 15 min off the the plane and on to the train talking to real people! The first 2 stops I was too nervous, then an older Elder came to me and said, "If I don't see a book of mormon gone by the next stop we're not friends." I just let my worries go! I handed out 2 english BOM's and had a full conversation about the gospel in Spanish W/ a lady and gave her a Spanish BOM! It was so cool you guys! I just talked to them, bore my testimony, found out about their lives. I got cussed out twice and told I was wasting my time preaching nonsense! Sweet huh? :-)Any ways I got the Spanish lady's info and hope to visit w/ her next week. Full Spanish! She didn't speak a lick of English! Sweetness! Love ya all!
Elder Campbell
Wow, after a fiasco @ the airport we're finally here. I'll write you more about it next week on p-day. It's super humid I haven't stopped sweatin. We got our luggage and met Pres & Sister King. Wonderful people! As we put our luggage in the trailor Pres took us back into the airport to the train station. He popped open a box of BOM's & pamphlets & pass a long cards W/ a one way ticket to the end of line. He said "Don't come back w/ any of this, I'll meet you on the other side of town". Holy crap, I about crapped my pants! 15 min off the the plane and on to the train talking to real people! The first 2 stops I was too nervous, then an older Elder came to me and said, "If I don't see a book of mormon gone by the next stop we're not friends." I just let my worries go! I handed out 2 english BOM's and had a full conversation about the gospel in Spanish W/ a lady and gave her a Spanish BOM! It was so cool you guys! I just talked to them, bore my testimony, found out about their lives. I got cussed out twice and told I was wasting my time preaching nonsense! Sweet huh? :-)Any ways I got the Spanish lady's info and hope to visit w/ her next week. Full Spanish! She didn't speak a lick of English! Sweetness! Love ya all!
Elder Campbell
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Email received from President King
Hello, parents of these wonderful new missionaries! Don't they look fantastic! Thought you'd like to see for yourselves! Just wanted you to know they arrived safely this afternoon at the Atlanta Airport (and the weather was "cooler" than usual--yay!) They began proselyting immediately and had a great experience on the MARTA trains (but a lot LONGER experience than any of our other incoming groups have had--they'll explain when they write you!). They talked to everyone they saw and handed out copies of the Book of Mormon, Truth Restored/mormon.org cards and Church pamphlets. We enjoyed dinner (they were starving!), a testimony meeting and introductions to the mission and each other. Each one is having a personal interview with President King tonight and tomorrow morning...plus they wrote their testimonies and opened your wonderful letters (thank you!). It was a great evening. You'll be receiving two letters shortly--one from your missionary and another from us with a printed picture for their scrapbooks. Thank you for training up such wonderful young people. They come to us well prepared, happy and optimistic...with deep testimonies. Please be sure to write them an encouraging letter every week...and they will also write you. There will be many marvelous experiences to share...Any questions or concerns, please let us know!
Best wishes,
President and Sister King (and 16-year old Connor)
Georgia Atlanta North Mission
PS--Sorry the picture is a little dark--it was later than usual when we shot it, and it was a bit trickier with such a big group. The other photo you will soon receive in the mail is plenty bright!
Off to Atlanta Georgia North Mission
After a day of having trouble using his debit card it was OK'd by the Mission President to meet Carson at the airport to give him cash. At 4:30am here he is "glowing" and talking on mom's cell phone to the family back at our home. Mom and Dad got to hug him and see how he shined. 16 other Elders were flying with them to the Atlanta Georgia Mission. Carson and Elder Miller were the only ones waiting for Visas. We were told it could be any where from 2 weeks to 2 months. Carson is just excited to get out in the field.
Monday August 31, 2009
Hey!!! So i'm completely sleep deprived! We saw elder peterson off to tenn @ 4 this morning, then elder barrus @ 5, then the temple session @ 6. Elders Peterson and Barrus were up at 3 30 getting ready. So it's just me and Elder Miller here. Being lonely and packing by ourselves! We have to meet at the travel office tomorrow morning @ 3am too. So it's possible i'll be dead....... Haha jk but kinda. The last week has been good. I'm starting to get super super super nervy!!!!!! But it's all good, the lord will help us! I blessed the sacrament in Spanish for the first time sunday, and sung our goodbye hymn. Elder Peterson is an amzing singer/pianist and has been teaching me how to sing :) I drank my first carbonated drink this morning since being on the mission! I shouldn't have gave in but it was a glass bottled coke from mexico, i couldn't turn it down. Leaving here is definately bitter sweet. It's been home, I'm going to miss a lot of aspects but it's time to go preach the good word. I'm afraid of the real world in a sense. We're so sheltered here in our little mini village. Can't explain the excitment though. We had an exit interview with our branch presidency yesterday. Had to teach them a lesson in Spanish of our choice. It went well. My Spanish is terrible in my eyes but my teachers say i have everything i need here to be able to progress to fluency in the field. I can communicate what i want to say about 90 percent of the time. Vocab is limited but hey it's all good. I'm excited for what Georgia has to offer. I'm going to use every minute i have there to do some good. Love you all, i should be calling some time between 5-6 in the morning. And i can talk for as much time as i have till i need to board so hopefully at least 30-45 minutes! Hope all is well there. Keep praying for the missionaries. There are a few new ones here having a hard time being away from home. Love ya! Talk to ya tomorrow!! Wooo!
Elder Campbell
PS- oh my new adress till i get the visa is
Georgia Atlanta North Mission
1150 Cole Dr. SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
Elder Campbell
PS- oh my new adress till i get the visa is
Georgia Atlanta North Mission
1150 Cole Dr. SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
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