Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Elder Landon with one of his districts.

July 25
Family,

Things here have been pretty good.

Yes, I am being Transferred to Cederedge. I am leaving on Tuesday Morning at about noon. I am excited about not being a Zone Leader anymore. But I am a little worried about training a new missionary.

But the missionary that will be my companion is not a Band new missionary. Salt Lake changed things recently on how new missionaries are to be trained. They usually have to stay two transfers with their Greenie, as well as they have an extra hour of study every morning because of the training they get in the MTC. In the MTC they aren't training missionaries on what to teach. Which surprised me... but instead of knowing WHAT to teach they learn more on HOW to teach.. HOW to help their investigators take what they learn and apply it. So they stay with their trainers for two transfers because they need to learn what to teach.

Alright sorry for that interruption.. but I am now at the library. We were at the Mall today for FOUR hours waiting for our car to get its oil changed. They said it'd take about 40 minutes to an hour and it ended up taking four hours.. But what ever.. in that time we walked around the mall and then got into about an hour long "discussion" with these two Born Again Christians. There were four of us though so that was pretty interesting. Elder Tonga was getting angry ... they just didn't agree with anything we'd say about our Religion.. but they are very close to what we believe. Anyways... sorry those thoughts are all jumbled up because I am still a little frustrated over the arguments... But it was funny... because we'd see people walking around the mall who we could tell were members just by looking at them and they were laughing and excited to see us trying.

But to continue about my thoughts on the way new missionaries are being trained now...
So during that extra hour of study everyday.. I will be helping the new missionary learn what to teach. I am pretty excited about it.
And from what I hear I think I am going to LOVE my new area.. they say its up in the mountains and a small town... which is OKAY with me!
I have also asked to, in addition to train Elder Rea (that's his name) be a District Leader.. which is not a problem to me.. that's not HALF as much responsibility as it is to be a Zone Leader. I can handle that.
But one bad thing.. my new area, Cederedge, is a car area. I wanted so badly to go to a walking/biking area to finish my mission.. I've been in a car since I left Grand Junction the first time.

This past week was great. Saturday and Sunday were amazing.. I don't know if it was my excitement over being released that made me more receptive.. but I felt the Spirit more strong those days than in a long... I know I feel it every day but I guess it was more often.. or just more powerfully then than any other time, in the recent past. But on Sat. morning we had a Conference Call with all the Trainers on how to most effectively help our new missionaries become great elders and powerful missionaries.. but it starts with us... Each calling in the Church is, obviously from the Lord, but it is a call to repent... to change.. to become better... and I am very excited for this chance. but during that call we learned about how Peter in the New Testament truly became not only a man with a testimony but a true disciple of Christ. It was great. Peter was amazing. I LOVE learning about him..

Then on Sat. night I had my last Coordination meeting with our Ward Mission Leader (pic attached Pic #2) and he asked me to say the closing prayer, so I did. And once I finished my prayer he said... "Now, its my turn." and he continues to pray.. pray for me. I have never in these past... 20 months had someone pray for me like that while I was there. I started crying because I thought... if this man, who I've only known for the past few months really feels this way towards me.. how much more does my Savior and My Father in Heaven love me. It was amazing.
Brother Kammer (the WML) is great. together we've made a LOT of progress in the GJ 9th Ward. when I first got here the relationship of the ward and the missionaries wasn't great. And the Ward Council.. just expected us to do everything.. But we talked about the best way we could change that. And we did it... the Ward Council didn't even want to doing anything with the Ward Mission Process.. and now, after its come slowly we have 10/15 people selected and the assignments to invite them have been issued. I am so excited.. its been like pulling teeth. I am so excited for the work that'll soon progress greatly in this ward.. I am only sad that I won't be there to experience and taste those fruits. But on the plus side... that's what President Maynes told me.. he said that's one of the reasons I was made a Zone Leader... to help the relationship of the wards and the missionaries.. and get the work rolling. So I'm okay with that.. I was truly a compliment.. I don't feel like I did much.

But also, on Sun. there is a lady that we are teaching that is great but she just wouldn't come to church because her husband wouldn't come, he didn't want much of anything to do with religion.. super nice guy but just wasn't interested. Anyways I told her I was leaving and I'd like to see her come before I go... She's been taught for YEARS... she's very close friends with the Bishop and his wife, Bishop and Sister Wells, and she lives right across the street from them. She's been to activities before and sacrament meeting once..when she was a small girl, with some relative. But we are at church and in walks Kim. She was wearing jeans and a sleeve-less shirt but she said it was the best she had. Which is what we should wear to church. And as I said "You made it! I am so excited!" she replied "I'm only here for you." Which was fine with me! HAHA! It got her to church! She really enjoyed the talks.. and after the meeting she wanted to say hi to Sister Wells, who plays the organ. And later that night Sister Wells told us at dinner that, Kim said she really felt the Spirit and that she just felt like crying..
But she also said that "I feel a little weird not being in a dress even though I don't like wearing them.. Everyone else is wearing one but me." Sister Wells...said "Well we need to go shopping then." Kim replied "Not just yet... soon."
The Spirit testified to her that in church with people who care about her is where she needs to be! Its on her mind. She's thinking about it..! that's great! I am so excited.

Also on Sun. was a great talk in sacrament meeting about the Atonement and applying it in our lives.. and one of the Hymns.. (which I've probably sung a hundred times) really touched me. Hymn No. 171(I think) With Humble Heart. the fourth verse really touched me.
so I wrote the words down.
And then in Elder's Quorum, the lesson was on Elder Oaks talk from Conference on Desire. And the story of the man, in Southern Utah who had his arm trapped under a boulder had to cut it off... He said he saw him with a little boy.. and the motivation of seeing his unborn son helped him work for his life.
And the quote I loved from that talk was "When we have a vision of what WE CAN BECOME, our desire and our power to act increase enormously."
I love it! Its so true!
I love feeling the Spirit.. that's motivation enough for me to keep going strong and repent when I make a mistake! The Gospel is TRUE! and ITS AGAIN on the earth!! Our Father in Heaven DOES LOVE US!

It was a great weekend... I just hope I don't let the "Born Agains" ruin those feelings I have. And I know they won't.

So tonight I will be packing.. joy... (not excited) but it happens. ONLY TWO MORE TIMES!! (maybe... who knows...) just a guess.. I think Cederedge is my last area.

Well, I can't think of much else to say.. thanks for everything the prayers, love, support, sacrifices you've all made for me to be here, and just everything.
I wish I could tell you how much you all mean to me but... I can't.. I love you and miss you.
Moroni 8:3.

Much love,
Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon



August 2

Dear Family,

I did get your letter and your SD card with the pictures. I loved them.. I really miss being at the Family Reunions.. its looks like you all had fun.
I read that snail mail..letter. I can understand why you had an emotional week. I was pretty shocked and thankful when I read it too. I am very grateful for that little one. It is events like that, that I think happen so the Lord reminds us to be thankful for everything we have.. ESPECIALLY our family. I guess... you could say I am lucky enough to be here in Cedaredge where there are a lot of peach, apple, pear, and cherry orchards... as well as corn fields. And as such there are a lot of little crop dusting planes that fly over all the time... so its a reminder of what I have and those I love.

Cedaredge is just great little farming/fruit & vegi growing town.. its like if you took Ririe and combined it with Island Park.. strange I know but you know how Ririe has the small town farm feeling and in Island Park you feel like you're in the mountains... well that's what it feels like here. It doesn't have as many trees as Island Park does however.. but still pretty. The ward here is great.. the Ward Mission Leader is a great guy. I really like it. There is a lot of work to do here.. so I am happy.

Before I forget.. the Library here in Cedaredge is always closed on Mondays so I will for the most part be emailing on Tuesdays... (like today) but on P-Days we go to Delta, a bigger city, to do most of our shopping and might email there on Mondays... so just never know when to expect a letter from me.
Also my address is:
21185 Lanning Rd.
Austin, CO 81410

Teaching a new missionary is a lot different than being a Zone Leader. Being a Zone Leader you have a companion who knows what to do... and since I was one for such a long time.. I relied on him, who ever he may have been, to do a lot of the teaching... now I am doing most of the teaching and most of the talking but its not a bad thing.. I really have been relying on the Lord a lot to help me know what I need to do. I think it'll all be alright
Elder Rea (Ray) is from Mount Angel, Oregon (near Salem). He is a good kid with a good heart and a desire to work. He is a little awkward.. .and kinda socially.. shy? But not necessarily shy but just doesn't know how to act exactly around certain people... I don't know how to explain him.
But do you remember Kyle Madsen? He reminds me a LOT of him.. I guess that it is the best way I can describe him. A good kid.

Things have been going pretty good. I didn't really want to tell you because I didn't want to worry you but I am doing a lot better now.
I'd been having a consistent headache for about two weeks now.. since two Sundays ago. Some days it was really bad and I didn't go out and work for several hours and others it was there but bearable. So I would go out and work..
The thing that concerned me was that the Acetaminophen and Excedrin Migraine, wasn't working, or doing anything for them. So I called President and Sister Maynes and they said drink a lot of water and rest when you need to.
But this past weekend I couldn't take it anymore.. I called them to see if I could go to the doctor. And I did yesterday... He gave me some pills and said that he's not sure why the things I normally took weren't working but prescribed something to me. I took it and the bottle said take every 4 hours.. so four hours later I took another one and was loopy... I've never felt like that before.. then I was super tired so I went to bed at 7:30 and slept until 6:30, granted I got up a few times to go to the bathroom and get a drink. I think part of it was just my body trying to get more rest.. apparently our bodies need that.. I slept almost 11 hours. I was OUT.
But the next morning Elder Rea showed me the bottle and it really said take every 4 hours AS NEEDED. So I didn't need to take it four hours after the first time I took it unless I needed it.. That it why I was tired...I called the doctor and asked him and he said if I didn't need it that thats what it would have done.. So I learned from that mistake.
Today I don't have a tremendous headache anymore.. He also said it'd take several days until it went away completely.. so I am on the right track.
So don't worry I am fine. And am doing better.

But things have been going pretty good. I am excited for this area.. there are a lot of things going on, and a lot to be done. I think I probably walked into about 2-3 baptisms.. but I am hoping to have several more before I go home.

I can't believe only 4 more months. Definitely a bitter sweet kinda thing.
But I did hear some REALLY exciting news.
Remember Trent and Karie Hill, in GJ 6th Ward? Well.. how they couldn't have children before Elder Englund and I starting teaching Trent? Then after several lessons..they found out she was expecting. Well he did get baptized last Sept... I am pretty sure I told you this. But he received the Melchezidek Priesthood and the same day blessed his baby boy Ryder. AWESOME!
But right before I left Junction, this time, I went by to say goodbye. They gave me some GREAT news. They are going to Salt Lake to be sealed on Sept 23. Its too bad that I won't be able to be there! But I am still extremely happy for them. But they also gave me a picture of their family: the two of them and their little boy in their church clothes. On the picture it said :
"Ties: $15, Hairspray: $10, Snacks to keep quiet during church: $5, Knowing there are FOUR people in this picture: PRICELESS"
She then told me that she's expecting again. She's due in Feb. The Gospel really blesses families! It blesses those that have them and those that can't and want them.
Pretty exciting.

That makes me even more excited to finally meet my new niece of nephew... and cousins (because I still haven't met Nicole's baby, Houston? yet). And Bethany's baby.
There will be a lot of new additions to our family when I get home...cool! I can't wait to meet them.

But that is all that I can think of at this time.
I love you all very much and can't wait to see you all!
Please take care.

Love your son and brother,

--
-Elder Cameron Landon